Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When Nico woke up, it felt like he was dying.

His veins felt lit up, as if on fire, his muscles shivering and shaking no matter how hard he tried to gain control over his limbs. His body ached as if his very soul was stuffed into a container too small. He groans, regretting the sound immediately when it scratches at his dry throat. He flinches away from the light that assaults his eyes from the open curtains. A voice calls out to him- a girl’s voice- concerned as it gets closer. He doesn’t get to open his eyes again, floating back into unconsciousness as his soul weighs on his body.

He was pained once again by the waking world by bright white lights all around him. He hisses softly, blinking his eyes until he could see past the light and into the room. He was in some sort of nurses office, decently sized and well maintained.

“Nico?”

Nico flinches at the voice that comes from his side, his head snapping towards it. He groans at the action, bringing a shivering hand up to his aching head.

“Don’t move too much, Neeks,” Comes the concerned voice that causes him to shallow despite his dry throat due to the ocean full emotions that threaten to claw up his throat.

“Bianca?” Comes his hoarse voice and it sends him into a coughing fit.

Bianca, as young as she always was, brings a hand to Nico’s back, quickly handing the boy a glass of water with deep concern on her face. Nico practically shoots the water like a shot with how quick it goes down.

“Bianca..” He says again, this time his voice was hoarse with the emotions that bubble up inside him, spilling out through his voice and the tears in his eyes.

“Hey,” His sister gives Nico a small smile that was supposed to be reassuring, which it would have been if Nico wasn’t old enough to see the concern in her eyes.

He can feel it, deep in his very soul, that he was too old to be in this body. Flashes of what was to come assault his head and it makes him groan in pain again, both physical and mental. Remembering that Bianca was dead and couldn’t possibly be in front of him makes his emotions too much to bear and he throws a hand over his mouth as he gags.

Bianca jumps away, rushing to hand him a trash can which came just in time for Nico to puke out his empty stomach into.

Remembering that dead people don’t watch over the sick like this makes him sob, still hunched over the trash can as what he had done slowly makes it’s way back into his brain.

Apollo had lost.

A shiver runs through him at the thought and he hiccups once more. He hears Bianca run out of the room, calling for a nurse. Before he knew it, a nurse was pressing a thermometer into his mouth as his thoughts race which pushes him to throw up again, thankfully into the trash can. Another look at Bianca’s worried face as she fidgets to the side, giving the nurse space to check him over, lets him know this wasn’t a dream. Not that his dreams were usually this peaceful.

Bianca was alive and so was he, which was a little bit of a shocker considering his last memory.

The feeling of slippery gold blood on his hands as he struggled to choke down the pieces of flesh, it burning his organs on the way down…

Safe to say, he was throwing up again. The burn of throwing up on an empty stomach three damn times makes him sob. When he finally got control of himself enough that he didn’t start crying all over again at the sight of his alive big sister, he was dead tired.

Nico sighs, letting his eyes close so he didn’t have to fight with the blinding hospital-like lights all over again. He pants lightly, trying to cool his body through his high fever, sweating through his clothes.

“Just go to sleep, Nico, you need your strength,” came Bianca’s voice and he didn’t bother to open his eyes to see her as much as he would have liked to. He nodded weakly, letting sleep take him once again.

“Are you sure you’re feeling alright?” His older sister asks, concern in her voice as she watches Nico gather up a change of clothes for the dance.

“I’m feeling fine, Bi,” He huffs, keeping his attention on his dresser. It felt weird to say that nickname again. After his sister joined the hunters, the hurt of her leaving was too fresh for him to be so casual with her. After her death, there was no one around who know who Bi was, just Bianca Di Angelo, the Huntress.

He sighs as he looks through his dresser for some pants that didn’t look like he was cosplaying a Victorian orphan that needed to go clean a chimney at 3 o’clock in the morning. He could feel Bianca’s judging and confused stare as she watches her brother care about something like fashion for the first time in his 11 years of living. Nico ignores her looks as he finally finds some black pants that didn’t end at his calf. He didn’t usually think he cared so much about his looks but now, gravelly missing his dads credit card, he was starting to reconsider. Money really did make the world go around, if only he and Bi thought to keep those casino cards…

Looking at himself in the mirror, he was glad to find he didn’t look like a mess. Though the complete lack of scars makes him pause, subconsciously bringing a hand to his cheek where the claw mark he got from some hellhounds would be.

Bianca’s eyes narrow in worry as Nico examines his face. She had snuck into Nico’s room (As boys and girls were separated) to help him get ready, assuming her brother would just throw something on which she couldn’t have. Yet, here Nico was, double checking his appearance. Well, Nico was a growing boy so it might be normal for him to start caring about how he looked but to this extent?

“Ok, if you say you’re fine then we must get going,” Bianca says. Not knowing how to deal with Nico’s sudden behavior changes, she tries to get some semblance of normalcy by taking care of Nico like she always does. Taking a step towards her younger brother, she starts fussing over his hair, trying to get it to lay flat. Nico makes a face at her fussing but doesn’t complain, which Bianca notes away in the ‘things that changed with Nico’ vault in her brain she started keeping after Nico woke up from that fever. Usually, Nico would have slipped from Bianca’s hands by now…

“Bianca, please” Nico huffs, knowing he sounded like a child he hasn’t been for years.

Bianca backs off reluctantly, fidgeting with her hands instead in her worry. Nico pointedly ignores Bianca’s concern, having too much on his mind. He grabs Bianca’s hand and rushes out of the room with her, desperate to get to Apollo already, hoping that the plan worked on his side too.

He pauses when out of the room, remembering that he had no idea where the gym was. Seeing her brother’s instant hesitation and clear confusion, Bianca sighs and starts to take the lead.

He looks around the gym once they get there, taking in the red and black balloons all around the floor and the stupidity some of these school boys portrayed as they tried to strangle each other with paper streamers for whatever reason. Girls walked around like very brightly colored hyenas as they walked in groups, jumping their victims and leaving them with ribbons in their hair and lipstick all over their faces.

Bianca watched the insanity with her nose scrunched up in distaste, like a mother watching some other woman’s kids act like fools in public. She herds Nico away from the craziness, which Nico doesn’t complain about, and has them both near the drinks where some of the older guys hang around, looking uncomfortable and trying to blend into the walls of the gym.

Nico looks around the gym, knowing that Percy and his friends were going to be here any minute now. Bianca watches her brother look around and tries to see who he was looking for. Did Nico met someone and not tell her about it? She sighs in relief at the thought. At least his behavior wasn’t serious then…

As Bianca is busy thinking of ways to get her brother to open up about his mysterious  crush, Nico catches sight of Dr. Thorn, who Nico immediately remembers his hatred for. The manticore with bad facial hair taste meets his eyes across the gym, the monster and the boy narrowing their eyes at each other. Dr. Thorn clearly knows that Nico knows, because the man takes a badly concealed sniff of the air, taking in the scent of a powerful demigod who was now in the know about the mythical world.

The disguised vice principal looks away from Nico, trying to look casual as he approaches the two siblings but Nico keeps his eyes trained on the other. He could try and take the manticore now, try and lead him away to kill him in some empty classroom, but he didn’t want to be separated from his sister, not knowing if the principal was a disguised monster too or not.

He doesn’t have time to think over another solution when Dr. Thorn is right in front of them. Probably sensing that something was wrong, Bianca puts her hands on Nico’s shoulder, keeping the boy close.

“You two, come with me,” Dr. Thorn orders, not bothering with pleasantries. Bianca narrows her eyes at the man in wary and confusion, but has the sense not to talk back. The siblings follow Dr. Thorn out of the gymnasium, feeling like they were in deep trouble. Nico, who knows exactly what was about to go down, doesn’t let himself relax. His caution only puts Bianca more on edge.

“Where are we going?” Bianca asks, her voice steady, keeping close to her younger brother as they follow this strange man away from people into the dark halls of the school.

“I’m going to make something out of you,” Dr. Thorn answers with a cruel smirk, like he was already thinking of using the two for his mother’s homemade soup or something. At least, being eaten was Nico’s first thought. To Bianca, it sounded like Dr. Thorn was going to sell them. Both were kind of right.

Once down the corridor, the disguised manticore pauses, making the siblings freeze in their tracks. Suddenly, the monster runs off, leaving the two in their confusion. They don’t get to wallow in their confusion for long when the sound of steps catches their attention. The children of Hades both snap around to see Percy with his sword in hand.

“It’s ok, I’m not going to hurt you,” The son of Poseidon says, stepping towards them and lowering his sword. Bianca’s breath hitches next to Nico as they both see the manticore- still in his human disguise but looking ghoulish- slowly advance behind Percy.

“Get down!” Nico calls out in time for Percy to drop to the floor and avoid the scorpion tail that would have nailed him in the shoulder.

“Perseus Jackson..” Dr. Thorn growls menacingly, his accent mangling the J in Percy’s last name, stepping into the dim light of the hallway.

Percy doesn’t stop to hear whatever monologue Dr. Thorn has geared up because he immediately rushes at the monster. There was a whistle in the air as another projectile shot out from behind Dr. Thorn despite the fact he hasn’t moved an inch. This time the projectile hits Percy in the side. Percy grunts in pain when he was hit and shoots Nico a glare when the younger threw his hands up in frustration like the dog he placed a bet on lost the cage fight.

“All three of you will come with me.” Dr. Thorn said. “Quietly. Obediently. If you make a single noise, if you call out for help or try to fight, I will show you just how accurately I can throw.”

The three demigods follow behind the manticore as he leads them out into the snowy woods. Nico was glad both he and his sister dressed conservatively to strive off the cold, even if it was just a habit on Bianca’s part. He remembers how scandalized they both were when first saw a cropped top, Nico chuckles at the memory of their red faces.

“Something funny, boy?” Dr. Thorn scowls down at Nico, who gives the man his most innocent look.

“No, Sir.” Nico says, being polite only because he knew the man was going to get his ass kicked in just a couple of minutes. Seeing Nico smile like he was laughing at a joke only he knew about, Dr. Thorn stops and growls at the boy in a distinctively inhumane way.

“You think you’re funny?,” Dr. Thorn says, eyes trained on Nico. Bianca instinctively blocks her brother from his view by stepping in front of the younger.

“Please, Sir-“ Bianca starts but she doesn’t get to finish as Dr. Thorn pushes them towards the edge of the cliff they found themselves at.

“What is he? How do we fight them?” Bianca asks Percy when she stops him from toppling over from the shove.

“I.. I’m working on it,” Percy grits his teeth, from the pain or frustration. Nico stays quiet, knowing it was best to just let this scene play out as everything will be fine in the end.

Taking his silence as fear, Percy leans over to awkwardly pat Nico’s shoulder.

“It’ll be fine,” Percy says, like he’s never had to comfort someone a day in his life.

“I know,” Nico says with an amused smile, completely calm. His attitude earns him a weird look from the older two demigods.

“Stop talking! Face me!” Dr. Thorn orders from behind them.

The three turn to see the monster pull out a phone from his trench coat. So when demigods get phones, they sign up for their deaths but monsters all have a 5-G family plan?

Percy looks over the cliff, gouging how far the drop to the sea was.

Seeing this, Dr. Thorn laughs. “By all means, Son of Poseidon. Jump! There is the sea. Save yourself…”

“What did he just call you?” Bianca mutters to Percy. Percy doesn’t answer, instead looking down at the sea with an ocean of thoughts behind his eyes.

“The rocks will kill us.” Nico says calmly, interrupting whatever reckless plan the son of Poseidon was cooking up.

“Ha! I would kill you long before you have the pleasure of reaching the rocks,” Dr. Thorn adds, taking a sick pleasure in the idea that he was a fate worse than death, shooting another spike towards them which whistles past Percy’s ear.

"Unfortunately," Thorn said, "you are wanted alive, if possible. Otherwise you would already be dead."

"Who wants us?" Bianca demanded. "Because if you think you'll get a ransom, you're wrong. We don't have any family. Nico and I..." Her voice broke a little. "We've got no one but each other."

Nico puts a hand on Bianca’s arm, trying to project comforting thoughts through his mind or something. He knows he can’t really tell Bianca that they did have one living parent, not until others started explaining everything, as he wasn’t supposed to know that yet. He just hopes Artemis comes to deal with Dr. Thorn soon because he has bigger fish to fry than some C-tier manticore.

"Aww," Dr. Thorn says with a mocking smile on his ugly face. "Do not worry, little brats. You will be meeting my employer soon enough. Then you will have a brand-new family."

"Luke," Percy grits his teeth. "You work for Luke."

The manticore’s mouth twists with distaste at the mention of the Son of Hermes.

"You have no idea what is happening, Perseus Jackson. I will let the General enlighten you. You are going to do him a great service tonight. He is looking forward to meeting you."

"The General?" The son of the sea asked in an odd imitation of the French accent Dr. Thorn had. "I mean... who's the General?" Percy asks again, this time without the accent.

Dr. Thorn looked toward the horizon with his wicked smirk returning to his face. "Ah, here we are. Your transportation." He says, not answering the question at all.

The demigods look up to see a searchlight over the sea. Nico’s mouth twists in distaste as he remembers that mortals were working on the monsters side. Many didn’t know just who they were serving but nevertheless, they were on the other side. At least that’s what he told himself not to wallow in grief for people he’s never known. Nico sighs tiredly, pushing down the melancholy that would so easily consume him if he wasn’t careful.

“Now, now, don’t look so sad little boy,” Dr. Thorn smiles cruelly down at Nico, who shoots him a disgusted look at the condescension, “You’re going to be part of a great army, better than those little dolls of yours. You should be honored! If not… well, there are other uses for half-bloods. There’s always more monsters to feed… The Great Stirring is underway.”

“The Great what?” Percy asks, his eyes darting around as he tries to think of a plan.

"The stirring of monsters." Dr. Thorn’s ghoulish face stretches with his evil smile. "The worst of them, the most powerful, are now waking. Monsters that have not been seen in thousands of years. They will cause death and destruction the likes of which mortals have never known. And soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus!"

“He’s crazy…” Bianca mutters, looking a little horrified.

“We have to jump- into the sea,” Percy whispers to his older sister, the two using their bodies to block Nico from the manticore’s sight.

“Oh great- You’re insane too,” Bianca deadpans and Percy has the gale to look offended.

“Didn’t we just establish that’s a stupid idea? And move, you’re blocking the view,” Nico grumbles, his patience already waning, trying to see past the older demigods. Before the two can argue with each other, an invisible force slams into them, knocking them onto the ground. Nico groans as he takes the brunt of the force, as the other demigods weight was now on top of him. For a second, Dr. Thorn was too surprised to hit them with his poisonous spikes accurately, the things flying over their head. This gave Thalia and Grover time to come up from behind the monster.

“For Zeus!” Thalia cries with a fierce look on her face. She knocks her spear against her shield, the sight of the terrifying Medusa’s head molded into the shield making Dr. Thorn hiss at the thing. Knowing that Thalia would be fine, Nico grabs Bianca’s arm and pulls her up with him.

“We need to move away from this damn cliff!” Nico says, pulling the next closer demigod- which was Percy, who had to pull Annabeth up with, her hat knocked off in the process of pushing them down. Knowing that the manticore takes Annabeth down the cliff with it, he doesn’t think before he was rushing the others away from the edge. Just in time too, because when Grover plays his reed, Dr. Thorn sheds his human form to his frankly hideous monster form.

The fully formed manticore roars, clawing at the weeds Grover grew with his magic. It swings his leathery tail, throwing spikes in all directions. Percy quickly hits his wristwatch, the metal plating spiraling out into a thick bronze shield. The badly damaged shield barely holding up Percy blocks the manticore's attack, Bianca pulls Nico to her chest and hides behind the son of the sea.

"Yield!" the monster roared furiously.

"Never!" Thalia yelled from across the field, matching the monster in anger. The daughter of Zeus charged at the manticore again and it looked like she was going to get him right through the chest, but Nico wasn’t looking at her. Nico looks up to the sky, catching the blaze of light of the helicopter. The sleek black military helicopter hovers above the cliff where they just were, His eyes catching sight of the rockets attached to the machine’s sides. Whoever was manning the helicopter moved so the lights blind Thalia, who is quickly swatted away by the manticore like an annoying fly.

“No!” Percy yells and runs out to parry another attack away from Thalia.

“Yield, little heroes,” Dr. Thorn growls, apparently already losing his patience.

The situation seemed dire, with them stuck between a manticore and a fully armed helicopter. But Nico stands straight, even as his sister tries to keep him in her arms, looking straight at the forest. Annabeth, seeing that Nico was completely unaffected (looking more like he was inconvenienced than anything), looks the way he was just in time to hear the blow of a hunting horn form the woods.

“What…” Annabeth whispers, her eyes narrowing in hopes of catching whatever was making that sound and why it made Dr. Thorn freeze.

"No," Dr. Thorn starts, taking a step back. "It cannot be-“

He was cut short as a sliver arrow rushes past Percy and nails Dr. Thorn right in the shoulder, the arrow glowing like it was infused with moonlight. The manticore staggers backward, wailing in agony. The manticore is struck again and again with arrows and Nico is satisfied he got his justice.

There was only a specific type of person who can shot with such accuracy.

The Hunters walked out of the woods, all having hardened determination on their faces like war veterans despite the oldest of them looking about fourteen. They wore silvery ski parkas and jeans, all armed with their bows.

“The Hunters!” Annabeth gasps beside him.

“Permission to kill, My Lady?” Asks Zoe, standing strong which makes him pause. Nico doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to seeing dead people alive and well. He never saw what happened to Zoe, no one ever really told him the whole story detail by detail of what happened on Bianca’s quest. He didn’t want to know, avoiding his grief like the plague. Still, now, he wished he asked so he knew exactly what would be coming this week.

“this is not fair!” Dr. Thorn wails, almost like a kid whining “This is against the Ancient Laws!”

“Not so,” Answers Artemis, her expression stern and dangerous in that way that made you know she was hundreds times the age she looked, “The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast. Zoe, permission granted.”

“If I can’t get them alive- then I’ll have them dead!” The manticore growls, lunging at Thalia and Percy.

“No!” Annabeth yells and tries to rush at the monster but Nico, armed with future knowledge, tackles her to the ground. She went down quick as she didn’t expect him but was even quicker in trying to get him off of her. Nico was glad he had the foresight to have pushed them further away from the cliff because by the time Annabeth had slipped from his grip and started running over to the monster, she was too far away to get there in time.

Instead, Thalia had slashed the manticore in his stomach, making the already injured monster stagger back with a roar.

“Fire!” Zoe orders and it rains arrows onto Dr. Thorn.

“Damn you!” He yells, patting away the arrows as best as he can though more hit their mark than miss, “This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!”

Before anyone can react, the monster leaps over the cliff and plunges into the darkness. Nico grabs Bianca and pushes them both to the ground to avoid the bullets that the helicopter only now decided to fire.

“Mortals,” Artemis announces, completely unphased from the attack, “are not allowed to witness my hunt.”

She thrusts out her hand and the helicopter exploded into a flock of ravens.

Zoe stopped short when she saw Thalia. "You," she said with distaste.

"Zoe Nightshade,” Thalia's voice trembled with anger. "Perfect timing, as usual."

Zoe scanned the rest of us. "Five half-bloods and a satyr, my lady."

“I see, some of Chiron’s campers,” Artemis hums, her eyes scanning their group, her eyes as cold and as bright as the moon which shines upon them. While everyone else was tense, Nico casually walks over without a care. He didn’t have time to pretend he was scared, even as Bianca tried to get him back to her side.

“Excuse me?” Nico asks, calm and polite. “I wanted to thank you for your help.” He says with a slight bow of his head, vying for a good first impression.

Even as Zoe narrows her eyes at him and grips her bow tighter as he approaches, Artemis doesn’t immediately order his murder so he counts that as a win.

“It’s good to see demigods are still taught manners,” Artemis gives him a brief nod before pausing.

“Who are you anyway?” Percy questions before Artemis could speak again, looking offended, immediately ruining the image he was going for and Nico visibly deflates in exasperation as he sends Percy a look that reads ‘seriously?’

Zoe steps forward as if to smack Percy and Nico doesn’t make a move to stop it though Artemis does.

“No, Zoe, I sense no disrespect. He does not understand.” Artemis says before turning her head back to the son of the sea “I am Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt.”

Percy looks like he half didn’t believe her and half like he realizes he was rude to a Goddess.

Grover on the other hand was even less intelligent as he gasped, then knelt hastily in the snow and started yammering, "Thank you, Lady Artemis! You're so... you're so... Wow!"

Artemis doesn’t spare Grover a glance as she approaches Nico, her eyes looking him over.

“Your hand,” She orders, holding her hand out for him. Nico calmly put his hand in hers, not at all questioning her. Something he learned from all his years of living was that when a god asked you to do something, don’t wait for an explanation, just do it.

Artemis turns Nico’s hand over and examines his veins.

“Just as I thought…” She hums and lets him go, taking a step back “You have my brother's energy flowing through your veins but you are clearly not his child.”

Nico nods, agreeing easily. He wasn’t expecting her, or anyone, to sense it but it made sense. Artemis and Apollo were born in the same womb during the same pregnancy. Twins, to put it plainly. They are the only twins in all of the Greek pantheon, there was a special connection there that could not be replicated.

“Wait- wait- what is going on- who are you people?” Bianca takes a step closer, nervously looking at Nico, demanding an answer with her eyes.

Artemis's expression softened. "It might be a better question, my dear girl, to ask who are you! Who are your parents?"

”O-our parents are dead. There’s a bank trust that pays for our school…” His older sister falters when she looks around to see that no one seemed to believe her.

“Bi..” he starts, not being able to keep the guilty look off his face. Bianca takes a step back when she sees his expression, light betrayal on her face.

“We’re orphans, Nico!” Bianca repeats. There was no way Nico knew something about their parents when Bianca didn’t- there was no way he didn’t tell her before.

“I mean.. not really? Mama is dead but… our father is very much alive. He is an Olympian God and-“ Nico starts, trying to put the earth large amount of information into a couple sentences as best as he can but Bianca cuts him off.

“No, Nico! This isn’t one of your stupid Mythomagic games! There are no gods!” She yells and Nico winces with guilt, putting his hands up in surrender.

“Bianca.” Thalia says, drawing his sisters attention to her “I know it's hard to believe. But the gods are still around. Trust me. They're immortal. And whenever they have kids with regular humans, kids like us, well... Our lives are dangerous.”

Bianca glares at the ground at this knew information before turning her glare to him.

“And you- you knew about this?!” She asks him in disbelief “All those rants about that stupid card game-“

“That- I was trying to keep you informed without you actually… knowing” Nico lies. He couldn’t change how he acted in the past but he can smooth the transition from the old him to the new, current him.

“Your brother did the smart thing,” Annabeth says, brushing off snow from her clothes from when he tackled her to the ground. He was glad she apparently already forgave him, seeing as everyone was safe.

“When Demigods know about our world, their scent grows larger and monsters are drawn to that scent.” The daughter of Athena explains.

“Then… those guys in the alleyway.. last summer in DC..” Bianca says in disbelief, visibly putting the pieces together.

Nico nods, “I only discovered all this after that fever I got three days ago. My scent alone was bad enough, but if we both knew…”

“That’s why Grover has been watching you- to keep you safe,” Percy says and Bianca wrinkles her nose.

“You’ve been watching us?” She asks, bringing Nico closer to her side with all the protectiveness of an older sister from the 1920s and Grover turns red.

“What- why would you take it that way?!” Grover asks, looking thoroughly embarrassed and glancing at Artemis, hoping she didn’t think he was a pervert.

"Bianca," Percy said, taking initiative to keep the ball of information rolling, "we came here to help you. You and Nico need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet. You need to come to camp."

"Camp?" His older sister asked.

"Camp Half-Blood," Percy says. "It's where half-bloods learn to survive and stuff. You can join us, Stay there year-round if you like."

“There is another option,” Zoe interrupts and Nico stays quiet, knowing that this was a decision he couldn’t- and didn’t want to- meddle in. He keeps his face calm but crosses his arms over himself like he was shielding himself from the cold.

“No, there isn’t!” Thalia says, the hunter and daughter of Zeus now glaring at each other with a clear hatred that makes Nico sigh.

“Please, don’t fight. My sister deserves to know all that she can.” Nico says, knowing he seemed and talked a lot older than he looked. He didn’t know many 11 year olds but he knows they don’t all talk like they were looking over war plans.

“Oh now I deserve to know things?” His sister grumbles and Nico doesn’t have it in himself to look at her.

“Zoe, we will rest here for a few hours, raise the tents and treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests belonging from the school.” Artemis interrupts with an order, then she turns to Bianca “Come with me, I’d like to speak with you.”

Nico bows his head slightly in silent support and takes a step back for Bianca to go when she shoots him a confused look. Zoe shoots Thalia a dirty look before leaving to collect the death siblings things, with Nico calling out a ‘thank you’ to her as she leaves. When Bianca leaves with the Goddess, Annabeth approaches him.

“So… you’ve known you were a demigod?” She asks, a calculating look on her face he knows so well that a fond smile creeps up onto his face.

“Yes. To put it simply, I’ve been having dreams,” Nico says serenely. He knows he can not tell anyone about how he traveled through time. It was an impossible, unheard of thing, that he had to do horrendous things to achieve when he was at the end of his rope. It was only possible through… he didn’t really like to think about it.

“Dreams?” Percy asks, immediately looking concerned.

Nico chuckles, “Yes. Dreams. A terrible thing for a demigod to have, no?” He says, taking pleasure in the knowledge that he sounds annoyingly vague. Now he knows why the Gods do it, it was pretty fun. He looks away from the older demigods, watching the Hunters put up tents and Grover trying his best to help.

“What are your dreams about?” Annabeth asks, crossing her arms.

“You should stop him,” Nico says instead of answering the question, watching as a Hunteress gets increasingly annoyed by Grover. Thalia tsks and stomps her way over to the satyr to stop him from getting shot.

Before Annabeth could ask anymore questions he couldn’t really answer, because he hasn’t come up with good enough lies, he makes his way over to the fire that was started up. He stands a respectful distance away from the Huntress who was tending to the fire, getting warm.

He leans closer to the fire and whispers, “Thank you, Lady Hestia,” just to be polite and he is greeted by his whole body growing pleasantly warm, his shivering stopping. He could hear Percy and Annabeth whispering to each other about his weird behavior and what ever could be haunting his mind as he sleeps. He sighs. These days, or during the days he was from, people didn’t really whisper behind his back anymore. He had found a good group of people to surround himself, people who appreciated and loved him. Now, he has to start all over with those relationships, with them now being young enough to not stop themselves from judging quick and harsh.

Still, no matter the whispers, his hands do not hurt others. No one was hurt, no one was kidnapped. He remembers Dionysus’ therapy sessions in times like this, remember that he wasn’t a terrible person no matter how others treated him. It took a while for that lesson to stick and it still sometimes slips away from him.

He looks up as one Hunter hands him his bag, which he looks through and smiles that his large Mythomagic collection was still in. That interest never really went away for him and like hell he was going to get rid of it when he knows how much this stuff cost. He makes sure to remember his manner and thanks the Hunter.

“Nico Di Angelo,” Zoe comes up behind him. The son of the dead looks at her in surprise, not expecting her to speak to him.

“Come with me,” She orders, looking at him like he was the dirt beneath her shoe, a stark contrast to her usual neutral expression towards him which lets him know he was in trouble. She leads him to a tent that looks the same as all the others. Artemis pets a sliver-horned deer that rest their head on her lap, the expression on the Goddess’ face looking stern and Bianca looking guilty to her side.

“You.” The Goddess says instead of a greeting “Your name is Nico Di Angelo, yes?”

“Yes,” Nico agrees as calmly as he can, hoping he didn’t get blasted into dust before he got to really change anything big.

“Tell me, child,” Artemis starts, standing up and despite her size, she was really starting to intimate him.

“Why did my brother wake up just a few nights ago screaming your name?” She asks, thinly veiled anger in her voice.

The new info makes him gasp and he can’t help the relieved smile that slips onto his face.

“He’s alright, yes?” He asks, hoping the only other person that was from his time, the only other person who can help him through this, was doing alright. Artemis pauses at the pure relief on his face. Sensing his lack of hostility or guilt, she calms.

“Yes.” The Goddess answers curtly.

“I am not sure what I can explain, Lady Artemis, so I ask that we wait until your brother arrives so he can explain.” Nico says as respectfully as he can. As he guessed, being vague was the way to go because Artemis hums.

“One of my brothers projects, then?” She asks, justifying this in her head when she takes in Nico’s words. She never said anything about her brother coming her, so she likely assumed Nico had been given a vision. Which he was grateful for because he didn’t want to travel through this landmine field of lies he was cultivating. One thing that didn’t add up and he was screwed.

“Well, your sister explained what that monster told you but as she is new to all of this, she didn’t understand most of it. Care to explain more?”

Nico explains all he can, Artemis nodding, putting a hand on her silver bow.

“A monster to bring the downfall of Olympus.” She hums, “I will hunt it. Before I go, My brother will come soon, as you’ve probably predicted. He will take you all to camp when dawn breaks.”

Artemis then turns to Bianca, who was glaring down at the floor with a contemplative look in her eyes.

“Have you thought about your decision?” Artemis asks her and Bianca looks up.

Nico merely tilts his head when she looks at him to ask what the Goddess was talking about. She huffs angrily, not liking this whole ‘untouchable important person’ persona has gained in front of the cool older girls in the room.

“They invited me to join the Hunt.” She informs him, sitting up straighter as if waiting for him to argue with her.

But Nico just smiles and nods, happy his sister will be taking the first step in growing. Even if, as much as this hurt to admit, it meant leaving him behind. “That sounds like a wonderful opportunity,” He says, his words neutral.

“You won’t be able to come with me,” Bianca scowls, now annoyed by how easily Nico was taking this. She knew Nico had become quieter recently but she didn’t think that would mean he stopped being her brother.

“I know.” Nico says, this time looking sadder as he once again is forced to let his sister go “but this is not a decision I can make for you, Bianca. It is your life you will being deciding from now on, yours and yours alone.” You won’t be looking after both of us, after me, after this He doesn’t add.

Bianca doesn’t respond to him and he takes that as his cue to leave, bowing his head to Artemis in a farewell and leaving the tent, with Zoe giving him a hum of approval. Once far enough away from Artemis’ tent, he sighs, feeling like he’s aged 30 years. He quickly gathers up all his emotions in before they can spill over into tears, knowing he wouldn’t stop for hours if he got started now.

It must show on his face though because when he approaches the camp fire, the older demigods notice.

“What did Artemis need you for?” Thalia asks first, her dislike for the Hunters making her jump at any opportunity to learn about them. All ironic in hindsight considering she ends up joining them later on.

“My sister is joining the Hunters.” He says calmly and Thalia visibly angers at this new information.

“Of course! They think it’s the best a girl can do- that they’re the best! Did you try and stop her?” The daughter of Zeus asks, scowling.

“Of course I didn’t,” Nico sighs, taking a seat across the others near the campfire.

“What? Nico, I really wish you had- I don’t know- given us a chance to explain more about camp. It’s really cool, with rock climbing above lava and chariot racing-“ Percy starts up, defending the only true home he’s ever known, the only place where he wasn’t totally weird but Nico interrupts him.

“I don’t know what your experiences are with the Hunters or with camp but I frankly do not care,” He starts firmly “My sisters life is hers and hers alone to lead. As her younger brother, I cannot in good conscience hold her back anymore. And as strangers,” He continues pointedly “You have no right to deny her of her opportunity due to personal opinions.”

Percy and Thalia both have the decency to turn red at his words as he practically scolds them for their childish behavior. Remembering he couldn’t expect the competent leaders he had come to know from his time, Nico sighs (he was doing that a lot lately).

“Do not take that the wrong way. It’s just… that camp of yours may have become a home to you, so I understand that you believe it to be the best option, but other people will lead different lives. My sister wants nothing more than to be free, to run around the world and not stop until she drops. If she thinks she will lead her best life with the Hunters, then it will be her best life, understand?” Nico says calmly.

“Are you sure you’re 11?” Grover chuckles nervously. He had been around many children Nico’s age scouting for demigods to bring back to camp and none sounded so mature.

Nico chuckles at the satyr’s words. If only he knew….

Soon the Hunters were packing up camp again as quickly as they had set it up and Nico followed the group as they followed Artemis facing to the east, waiting for Apollo. Bianca approaches Nico but before she could say anything, the sound of a car speeding towards them comes. Rather than already being in ‘blinding light’ mode, it was just a regular car, meaning that Apollo had the foresight to not blind them all.

“A quick entrance… unusual for you, brother,” Says Artemis, raising her eyebrow as her brother gets out of the car. Seeing Apollo in his jeans and much longer sandy hair that shows off brown roots, paired with the lack of arrogant expression and his eyes searching their group, Nico immediately knew that he was the Lester he had spent two years fighting off the chaos with the world for.

“Well,” Apollo smiles at his sister, looking as relieved as Nico felt, “I had a meeting to get to.”

The God of Music tears his eyes away from the only other person in the world who can understand the things he went through, locking eyes with his sister who he too was not used to seeing alive.

“Wow,” Thalia muttered. “Apollo is hot.”

“Thalia,” Nico gapes, a little stunned as he totally forgot she said that right in front of the man himself.

“Oh come on, tell me I’m lying!” Thalia huffs when she sees Nico’s halfway scandalized expression and he huffs a laugh.

“You’re looking for a ride, right?” Apollo says to his sister, not before sending Thalia a wink. He takes out his keys and the car glows brightly before it changes into a Turtle Top shutter bus, something to fit the whole gang. “You guys get in while I have a little talk with our friend here,” The god says, putting his hand on Nico’s shoulder. The son of Hades waves off the questioning looks he gets from the other mortals of his group and follows Apollo into the woods.

Once deep enough into the woods where not even Artemis’ advanced hearing could accidentally pick up on their conversation, Apollo sends Nico a panicked look.

“Holy shit, it worked,” He breathes out in disbelief as if it didn’t sink in until now.

“Holy shit indeed,” Nico says, the emotions he’s been holding in for days bubbling over in a slightly crazed laugh. When the two were done laughing crazily, they sigh, tired.

“New look?” Nico asks, looking at the way Apollo’s hair showed his brown roots as if he dyed his hair, knowing that as a god, he was going out of his way to have his form look like that.

“Just wanted a little bit of Lester with me in appearance, like how he is in my heart.” The god says thoughtfully, fidgeting with a strand of his hair and Nico nods understandingly.

“How have you been?” The demigod asks, wondering how his friend has been.

“For days I thought I had just spontaneously gone crazy. Like the things I’ve been through were just really vivid visions and I didn’t actually live through the end of the world three times over,” Apollo sighs, taking a seat on a log as if he got tired when that was near impossible in his godly form.

“I felt the same but my biggest worry was that I had come back and you didn’t.” Nico says, the Sun God nodding.

“I wanted to contact you through your dreams or something but if you didn’t come back then I’d be telling some unprepared 11 year old about shit he seriously shouldn’t know. I didn’t want you to think you were going crazy like how I have been feeling.” The man says. “In any case, I saw you already started changing things.” He says, referring to how Annabeth was around and perfectly unharmed.

“yeah,” Nico sighs, exasperated, “I had kinda told them I knew to stop Annabeth from attacking the manticore because of dreams.”

“Dreams, the perfect excuse in this case,” Apollo nods, “You’re going to have to use that excuse a lot with the amount of stuff that needs to be changed. To the point where people will start to think something is up.”

“Yeah… I need to figure something out. Demigod dreams are credible but I can’t use them forever. I need people to listen to me when I tell them not to do something, even with my young age. Like how people listen when Rachel talked.” Nico says.

“Well, you can’t be an Oracle but you can be something just as good.” Apollo smiles, standing up from his seat on the log.

“You can be a prophet.” He says and Nico blinks in confusion.

“I thought prophets were born?”  Nico questions.

“Well, yeah but that’s where the whole lying thing comes in.” The god smiles “and anyway comes the second bit of this intricate lie: I need a reason to go out of my way to help you since gods can’t really help mortals like that- Ancient Laws and everything- so here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to make you my Champion!”

“Your champion?” Nico gapes in shock, “No one is going to believe that! A child of darkness being the champion of the God of Light”

“Champions are usually chosen when people please the gods in some way. Usually when a person honors a gods domain, like for example, Hera championing an amazing marriage counselor or something. In Jason's case, he was born to do this, as he was gifted to Hera so his entire life was dedicated to her. His life was to honor her. With your ‘natural born talent’ of prophecy, people won’t think twice! Here’s the story: you were born with good future vision, maybe a long ago ancestor being my child and the godly blood from your father in you activated those dormant genes. When you found out about the mythological world, it unlocked your powerful sight in full and my godly senses alerted me of it or something. I watched you for days, seeing you be oh so cool and awesome and decided that I couldn’t let such amazing sight that not even my children have slip from my fingers so I take you on as my champion!” Apollo explains, growing increasingly excited as he tells Nico his complicated string of lies that he was honestly impressed by.

“You’ve been thinking about this for a while, huh?” Nico hums thoughtfully and the god chuckles sheepishly.

“I had so much time to think, honestly.” The God of the Sun says.

“So I am going to be a born prophet taken on as your champion… I’d say that’s a perfect lie that may fall apart if I get something wrong. After all, my future knowledge might not be any good one day with all the changes I plan to make.” Nico crosses his arms, his expression one of deep thought.

“I’ll be sending you some actual visions if I see that anything changes,” Apollo reassures and his crazy plan was starting to sound like they could actually pull it off.

“But a Prophet and your Champion? Wouldn’t people think it’s too much? Like getting two of something? To everyone else, I’ll be getting twice over future vision or whatever. Why not just pick one?”

“Because- like I said- I can’t really help you if you if you’re just some random Prophet. Since your sight in our story isn’t a direct gift from me, It would look odd if I go out of my way to defend you in Godly Court. Most Prophets are loosely connected to me anyway- God of Prophecies and all- so it wouldn’t be farfetched that I picked one up to be my Champion in these waring time, especially one so good.” The Sun God explains.

“Then… Let’s do this.” Nico nods, determined, “Is there a ritual we should do or…?”

“Usually for dramatics, yes but right now lets just..” Apollo trails off, bringing a hand up and taps Nico’s head with his finger. Immediately warmth flooded his body. So much so that he started to sweat in his aviator jacket despite the cold of the winter.

“I also changed your eyes to signal your prophet sight,” Apollo says, conjuring up a mirror to show Nico. His usual onyx eyes now had the black fade into a gray around the pupil. “Usually prophets are blind but I didn’t want to disable you. Plus, you’re only, like, half prophet since it’s not actually all that natural so it’d just be a dick move to make you blind.” The God chuckles.

“And just so people know for sure not to mess with you, here,” The blond snaps his fingers and in his hands appear some small gold pieces. “Now, I’m no Hephaestus, but I’m sure I can do a decent job,” He hums before he closes his hands around the pieces, his hands start to glow as they heat up dangerously and Nico has to take a step back to avoid the heat.

“Sorry sorry,” The God quickly apologizes. Whatever he was doing, he was done in a second, opening up his hands to reveal small gold earring studs. “One more thing,” The man chuckles before slicing the tips of his fingers with his sharpened teeth. Nico flinches back at the sight of his friend golden blood, the liquid making his stomach churn. Seeing the demigods distress, Apollo quickly drips his blood onto the earrings, which absorbs the blood through the dips of the jewelry’s intricate carvings, light shining through them. When he was satisfied, The god immediately magics away his wounds.

“Sorry,” The god apologizes again and Nico shakes his head.

“No, it’s just… memories.” The demigod sighs and Apollo nods in understanding, knowing the terrible thing his younger friend was forced to do to get them both here.

Apollo hands Nico the earrings, who immediately puts them on.

“What are they for?” He only asks after already having them on and he would have thought it a foolish action if he didn’t know Lester wouldn’t have done anything crazy with it.

“Just some extra protection. Anyone with half a mind will recognize that  you’re under my care while wearing those things,” The god puts his hands on his hips, trying to look confident but it quickly goes down when he continues, “I… can’t have another friend leave me.” He says sincerely and Nico nods, expression understanding. They knew too much of loss, being the last ones in the end to live.

“Let’s get back to the others before they think you’ve killed me.” Nico says and the other agrees.

Going back to the bus, Artemis was waiting, calm but her eyes trained to where they came out of like she hadn’t moved an inch until her brother came back. After all, he had been acting odd for days, and it had something to do with that Nico Di Angelo kid. Seeing the hidden concern, Apollo gives his sister a bright smile, brightest  and more sincere than its been in days which staves off her racing thoughts.

He doesn’t make a comment on her worry, instead looking over to the group that was still outside the bus. Bianca and Thalia stayed outside the van, Nico’s sister worried for his brother and the daughter of Zeus being wary around the gods in general. Percy was looking out the window too to see what was going on. Nico’s guess was that he went into the van because Grover and Annabeth insisted for him to let the gods be. If not, He would probably be outside too since that guy never seemed to not be in the middle of something.

“Nico! Your eyes!” Bianca gasps, a slight sliver glow to her from her extremely recent ascension to immortality. There was no anger in Nico’s heart when he saw this, knowing she would have always chosen that path. Just a slight disappointment that he was right to prepare for the hurt.

“You have a good eye!” Apollo chuckles, bringing back the energy that was usually around him. Artemis narrows her eyes at Nico’s new earrings, probably sensing her twins blood infused into the material.

"Say hello to my new Champion!" The Sun God declares before Artemis could think Nico was hurting him or something, making his sister blink in momentary surprise. After all, a champion was personally chosen to represent their god, it wasn’t a title you gave out to just anyone because it had to be given to someone the god knew for sure honors them and wouldn’t shame them. Mortals were so unpredictable these days, chosen mortals had to be really something special.

“Champion?” Bianca gapes. She may not know fully what that meant but it did sound like a big deal.

“Your brother here,” Apollo puts his hands on Nico’s shoulders like a parent presenting their honor student child, “Was born with some potent future vision, extremely rare for even my kids. I just couldn’t let him slip from my fingers, you know? From now on, this Prophet is my Official Champion!”

“Now… lets get inside and get going, huh?” Apollo winks.

Chapter Text

Bianca gaps at the man- the god- that named her baby brother his champion, whatever the hell that meant. As much as she hates it, an ugly feeling claws its way up her stomach. Once again her life was overshadowed by Nico’s…

“Champion?” Says Annabeth, pushing against Percy to see what was going, unable to help herself in eavesdropping either. It seemed the Hunters in the van were the only ones minding their own business, Nico chuckles at the thought.

“Champion…” Artemis repeats, clearly deep in thought. It was one crazy thing to name a champion, it was an even crazier thing to give said champion protective jewelry with gods blood infused into it.

“Father will not be happy.” The Goddess of the Hunt notes, pointedly staring at the offending earrings and Apollo winces, having forgotten how strict the rules for gods were when they really mattered. Positive relationships- true ones- weren’t particularly encouraged. Given the gods history of becoming terribly attached to some mortals and going a little crazy in his grief when they eventually left him in one way or another, safe to say no one with half a mind would approve. It might just be like all the other times.

Knowing the hurt her brother would be in when Nico inevitably dies in some way, as is the way of mortals, The Goddess of the Hunt gets a bad feeling in her stomach.

“Yeah well… this is important.” Apollo says. The Goddess sighs and nods. Even if whatever plan her brother has goes up in flames when he burns to bright for it, she can at least be soothed by the fact that she would help pick him back up like all the other times.

“Zoe.” Artemis turns to her lieutenant, “I leave you in charge of the Hunters. Do as I would do.”

Zoe straightened at the order, looking as serious as ever, “Yes, My Lady.” Without another word, Zoe herds Bianca into the van in the backseats with the rest of the Hunters.

“Where are you going anyway…?” Apollo asks nervously, showing much more true emotion then he would have before being Lester.

“Given your attitude, I assume you already know.” Answers Artemis, not discouraged by her brother's nervousness, even as he visibly dampens at her answer.

Apollo’s grip on Nico’s shoulder tightens a bit, thankfully not going full god strength on his poor mortal bones. The Son of Hades looks up at the god in worry, knowing exactly what was going on in his head. After all, he thought the exact same thing when thinking over Bianca’s fate. Even if he could stop her death, he could never stop Bianca from becoming a Hunter. It wasn’t his right.

“You have to let her go.” Nico says to his friend, his only true one at the moment, a calm sadness to his voice as he coaxes the god to let his sister run straight towards danger. They both know at the end of the day, Artemis will not die on that mountain. She wouldn’t even be all that damaged, just tired. Still, he knows it would be unreasonable to ask his friend to stop worrying. She was his sister after all.

Hearing the cryptic message in Nico’s words, Artemis grows slightly aware that her brothers worry was not the usual ‘big brother’ act he had going on.

“Whatever it is you saw, brother,” She starts, face determined, “Let it be. I will be hunting.”

They both hear the truth in her words. Like Bianca, hunting is how Artemis wants to live her life. Leading her friends, her sisters, all throughout the world, doing what she loved for all of eternity. That was her life, how she always wants to live it. Even if it might bring her hurt one day, it wouldn’t be fair for Apollo to take that from her, even if it was out of genuine worry.

After all, if she could let him love mortals even if it will hurt him, then he can let her love the Hunt, even if it might hurt her. The two gods nod at each other, one worried the other determined.

Artemis kneels down to the ground, pressing her hand to the ground. Despite there being no visible tracks, she must have caught something because she looks straight into one direction. Without looking back, she bolts into that direction.

Apollo and Nico watch her go until she fully disappears from even the gods heightened sight. They stay there for a minute, Nico staying with his friend as silent support until the god takes a breath as he gets his emotions under control so he didn’t go into a downward spiral and makes his way to the car.

The two go into Apollo’s car as if they’ve done it a million times before, Nico going into the front passenger seat without a word.

“She'll be fine,” Nico repeats the reassure his friend and the god huffs a laugh, letting his worry simmer down.

“You would know, oh grand Prophet,” Apollo jokes and Nico finds it in himself to let the air lighten rather then stewing in their shared worry for the future.

“Prophet and your Champion,” Nico reminds in good humor, still a little shocked by the crazy lie about being a Prophet they somehow got away with.

“Speaking of that,” says Annabeth from the seats behind them and the two flinch at her interruption in surprise, completely forgetting that they had to account for other people being around again. There weren’t many people to be wary of in their time…

“Sorry,” Annabeth quickly apologizes, mostly to be polite before continuing seriously, “but what did you mean by Champion?”

The god and boy share a look before Nico looks back to Annabeth to try and explain it in a way another mortal would understand when he barely understands what he’s supposed to do with that title.

“I see…” Annabeth hums thoughtfully, leaning back against her seat.

A flash of worry goes through Apollo's face. After all, there were a lot of questions Annabeth could ask that might unravel their fragile story. Well, somewhat fragile. A lot of the bolts were hammered in already but they didn’t want to take a chance. Luckily, because Thalia wasn’t driving this time, they made it quick to Camp Half-Blood.

The snow at camp was a bit of a surprise but Nico thought the frost looked quite nice as he pulled his jacket closer to himself to stave off the cold.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to Chiron,” Percy says, looking at Nico and Zoe.

“I know Chiron,” Zoe says stiffly, wrinkling her nose in distaste, from whether Percy, the Chiron, or Camp in general, he didn’t know. “Hunters, follow me.”

“I’ll show you the way!” Grover enthusiastically volunteers.

“We know the way,” Zoe answers, looking exasperated.

“Oh, really, it’s no trouble. It’s easy to get lost here- I bet you didn’t come here when there was snow around! Come on!” Grover says, not at all taking the hint. Nico worries for his safety.

“Well, then…” Percy starts after watching Grover trip over himself to lead the Hunters the way, the Hunters only following because they figured there was no way to get rid of him without great bodily harm, “I guess I’ll just be showing you around.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Apollo comes up behind them, smiling, “I’ll be taking him to my cabin! Until his dad steps up and claims him, He’ll be under my care as my Champion.”

Percy’s eye twitches in annoyance at being taken over once again.

“How about you and Annabeth go tell Chiron about everything? I’ll be fine,” Nico waves them off, trying to gently tell them to leave him be.

“Nico,” Bianca comes up to him, her expression conflicted. She keeps looking back to the Hunters, as if afraid she would get left behind. However, the Hunters wait for her, even when it meant they had to deal with Grover trying to impress them by playing what sounded like Mozart on his reed pipes. The originally piano music did not sound great on the pipes, truthfully.

Seeing her worry, Nico sighs.

“I’ll be fine, Bi. You go get to know your sisters.” He says, never wanting to hold her behind again. Bianca doesn’t get a chance to say anything else when Apollo herds Nico away.

“Watch out for those prophecies, Perseus Jackson!” The god calls out behind him playfully despite the ominous words.

“So, I’m staying at your cabin?” Nico hums, taking his backpack that was packed with everything he owns when Apollo hands it to him.

“Yeah…” The god says, the happiness melting off his face when they actually reach the cabin.

“There’s… so many of them..” Nico says softly, watching how the happy brothers and sisters get into the Christmas spirit as ironic as it was.

“Yeah…” Apollo repeats, this time sounding defeated. The cabin was practically bursting with life which just made the memory of what was to come hit all the harder.

“I never realized…” The god trails off. There was so much to say. He never realized just how many he lost, how many had their happy lives ripped from them. How their mortal parents must have felt to get a call that their children were never coming home, his young inexperienced children having to make those calls. Before, it wasn’t something to think about. The threat was gone, it was a call for celebration. Did he ever think twice about the ripple effects a mortal death causes? After all, he never had to think or prepare for his own, or for his families. The thought of them being hurt was laughable. And then prophecy after prophecy, again and again they were threatened. Again and again they had to rely on the children they so often pushed aside.

Nico sighs, knowing grief so intimately it was practically a part of who he was. Grieving the dead, grieving the alive, it felt like there will always be this hole in his heart he could never fill, just learn to live with.

The demigods notice the two pretty quickly, confused as to who they were and what they were hanging around their cabin looking  like a couple of sad cats in the rain.

“Hello!” Apollo greets, putting a smile on his face. At least the happiness from seeing his children alive and well was not faked.

When Nico starts to walk over to the cabin, Apollo doesn’t follow.

“You are the Apollo cabin, yes?” Nico asks despite already knowing the answer. His godly friend doesn’t wait for an answer before practically dancing around his kids in poorly concealed happiness from seeing his children alive and well, many he’s never spoken a word to. Never thought to before Lester Papadopoulos grew to be a part of him.

“Ah, look at all of you,” The god laughs before stopping at the form of a smaller and younger Will.

“And look at you! Oh, my son, you’re like a tiny version of me!” Apollo laughs, bringing the boy into a hug, unable to stop himself. Nico can only imagine the thoughts going through his friend’s head at the sight of the only son he really got to know. Last either of them saw of Will, it was not a pretty sight. He can feel his hands tremble at the sight of the son of Apollo. He really was the exact copy of his father, looking at them side by side now.

Finally understanding who the strange 19 year old that was cooing over them like proud mom to their young child was, the Apollo children snap out of their shock.

“Dad?!” Lester- the demigod one- gapes in shock as his father moved on to pick up one of his younger children.

“Yes, hello!” Apollo waves, chuckles but it lacked the usual attitude a god would have. Usually, there was a vibe of disconnect, where they would pick you up and then put you down whenever they felt like, like how they did with mortals generally. Happy with or without you around, sometimes not even claiming you. But now, going through all that he has, it just feels like an awkward father who didn’t know how to reconnect with his children.

The god sighs as he takes in his gaggle of children once more, sighing as his enthusiasm leaves him and is replaced by that dim sadness of grief long accepted but still painful.

“You really have a whole litter here…” Nico speaks up when he sees his friend grow dimmer.

“Yeah, well, a lot of talented mortals out there. So wonderful, each one of them,” The god says. He never particularly adored any of his demigods mortal parents, as he never had the best track record with love anyway so best not to get attached, but he knew his words lifted his children’s spirits.

There was a brief pause in the air as no one, not even the littlest of the cabin (who was still in Apollo’s arms) knows what to say when face to face with the father they always wanted to see. Many demigod children never even get to know who their godly parent is, as seen with how many unclaimed kids there still are in the Hermes cabin, but those who do get claimed get the added problem of knowing your parent knows you but only bothered to acknowledge you once and never after. People like Clarisse, who got her spear from her father, were rare. Special.

“I am Nico Di Angelo,” Nico takes the moment to introduce himself and Apollo is pushed back into action by his voice.

“Yes, right,” The god chuckles, pushing the boy in his arms to lay his head on his shoulder, not willing to let go just yet. Will’s face turns red at being babied so much.

“Uhm,” Apollo clears his throat in his sudden nervousness, a left over habit from his mortal days, “Children, this is Nico Di Angelo, as you heard. He is a Prophet and my Champion,” He announces.

“Please, take care of him. He is unclaimed for now, so he’ll be staying at your cabin.”

“Getting chumy, aren’t we?” Calls out a gruff voice. They turn to see Dionysus, sipping on a pepsi, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

“Oh come on, you get to see your kids all the time.” Apollo huffs.

“I have an excuse, what is yours?” Mr. D asks with a raised eyebrow.

“That I was simply showing my Champion,” He gestures to Nico, “around the cabin and just happened to get caught up in showing my kids the best way to make a bow. Why have someone else make it when you can make it all cool by yourself with a perfect fit? Come everyone, quickly before my dad forces me away,” The God of the Sun assures his children and Nico into the woods to chop down some (regular mortal) trees to make some personal bows.

It takes all day and even when Nico insists he shouldn’t intrude on precious father-kid time, the Apollo cabin insists he join. The friendly bunch logic that he was practically a long lost cousin- with the lie about him being distantly of Apollo blood that they told them- so he has to join in.

He gets a custom bow out of it, which was pretty sweet of them all even when he can’t shoot to save his life. Their little family bonding session is cut by a thundering in the sky. Seeing as his father wasn’t too happy with him and his extremely odd behavior, Apollo has to say goodbye. After painting a little ‘Dad loves you’ at the end of their bows as a parting gift, he hugs them all goodbye. The children, usually discouraged by lack of acknowledgement from their godly parent, now have the added burden of the sadness in their fathers voice when he says goodbye. It’s clear he doesn’t want to go but he has no choice. This new information soothes many of their hearts, now knowing for a fact they were loved, even by someone as seemingly untouchable as a god.

Nico knows his friend might not see his children until the Battle of Manhattan, and by then most of them will be dead. At least this time, they will die with bows in their grip in place of their father holding their hand. He just hopes it will feel soothing enough that death won’t be painful when the time comes.

After a time, Percy came to tell them about the Capture the Flag game against the Hunters.

“Want to come with me to tell everyone?” Percy asks Nico, clearly trying to bond for whatever reason. Did he do this with all the younger kids or was it just the ones he was sent to bring back? In any case, he follows the son of the sea after waving goodbye to his new cabin mates.

“So…” Percy starts, clearly not used to having to look after someone, “how has camp been treating you?”

“It’s nice, everyone has been welcoming so far…” Nico hums. He knows it may not last once- if- he gets claimed by his father. Percy and Thalia were nice enough people but given that his father chased Thalia down and forced her father to turn her into a tree to avoid her death and kidnapped Percy’s beloved mom, there would be some strife.

“That’s nice,” Percy answers, stuffing his hands into his jeans pockets, “Bianca’s been worried, you know.”

Nico sighs, “She has nothing to be worried about.”

“Yeah but… she says that you’ve been different..” The son of the sea says, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. Nico can’t help but chuckle as Percy tries to connect with him like an absent father.

“That’s just what visions do to a person.” Nico says with a small amused smile.

“Yeah… those visions…” Percy hums, growing a thoughtful and concerned look on his face, “Bianca said you were a very bubbly kid, to change you so drastically…. what have you seen?”

“I’m hungry.” The son of Hades says instead of answering, “There’s a dinner pavilion, yes?”

Percy doesn’t get to protest as he clearly as he wants to, for Nico was already walking away towards the dinner pavilion no one showed him the way to.

Once he gets there, many of the cabins were already sat down, waiting for dinner to magically show up. The Artemis Cabin was included in that group, Bianca happily chatting away with her new sisters-in-arms. Nico decides not to bother her and makes her way to the large hearth instead, seeing a young girl tending to the fire peacefully.

“Hello,” He greets politely, “Care for some company?”

Hestia looks up and gives him a smile, gesturing to the empty spot next to her which he takes.

“My name is Nico Di Angelo,” Nico greets with a smile, fond of his kind aunt. She had once mourned the innocent boy she knew when he had greeted her formally and apologizing for minor mistakes. He hopes he doesn’t make her mourn like that again, mourning for someone still alive.

The two talk quietly to each other as campers roll in.

“You should go and eat, Child of the Dead,” Hestia says, looking back to see the food start to appear. Nico chuckles as she so casually tells him his heritage when he should realistically not know.

“And you, Lady Hestia?” Nico responds with his own knowledge. Hestia chuckles at this and just tells him she will be fine. Being near the heart of the camp is enough for her, with or without tasting the food.

Nico nods and grabs his own plate of food, sitting with Will at the Apollo cabin table which was, a little annoyingly, right next to the Artemis table. When they were finished eating, Chiron makes a toast to the gods and the Hunters, announcing the flag game. Why make Percy go around telling everyone about the game tomorrow if he was just going to make an announcement?

When everyone gets up to dump the best pieces of their food into the fire, Nico follows. He dedicates his food to Apollo and Hestia, sending Apollo a prayer telling him about how he was settling in. Many of the Apollo kids skip over to the fire, praying to a father they know was listening.

When he finishes, he hears gasps come from behind him. He turns around quickly to see what they were gasping at only to see the camp looking at him and Bianca. Looking above Bianca, he can see why.

Above Bianca and him floats a glowing silver bident, a symbol of his fathers, with a skull in the middle of the bidents prongs that conveniently hammer in just who claimed them.

“Hades,” Chiron starts, standing up from his place in the ‘adult’s table’ next to Mr. D and Argus, his voice commanding silence, “Keeper of the Veil, Ruler of the Shadows, Warden of Souls. Hail Nico and Bianca Di Angelo, Son and Daughter of the God of the Dead.”

Murmurs break out through the camp and Nico can’t keep the exasperation or annoyance off his face. Neither he or his sister got officially claimed before- glowing symbol and all- why was their father bothering them now?

“I can only hope this doesn’t change anything,” Nico sighs, looking over to his temporary cabinmates, ignoring how Thalia leaves her empty table to stomp off into the woods. Or permanent cabinmates, seeing as there wasn’t a Hades cabin yet, “I am still Apollo’s Champion if that will soften your judgement.”

“Screw that!” Will says, jumping from his place at the table. His words shoot fear and disappointment into his heart until Will continues, “You’re still our friend.”

Nico smiles at Will’s easy acceptance. His siblings seem reluctant for a second before they all jump onto the train Will started, pulling Nico back into their table. He stumps down the ugly feeling that tries to crawl up his throat. How is he supposed to be completely happy with this acceptance when people at the other tables are still whispering? When he knows for a fact, if it wasn’t for his important titles, he would have had the same experience with these people as he did the last time? How can they complain about their parents judging them and each other unfairly when they do the same? When they refuse to participate in games or interact with other cabins specifically because of their blood? How can they let their parents biases trickle down to them as if they were raised by them when half of the gods don’t know which kid is theirs?

Nico smiles even as he thinks bitterly, ‘children, all of them.’

That night, Nico had a dream. Like always, that was bad news.

A young man with blonde hair and a gagged scar down his face. The face of a man who he’s only seen once, when his fate was sealed and his death was close. Still, at that time, his eyes were gold rather than the stark blue they are now.

Luke Castellon, a name that haunted his friends and all of Camp Half-Blood, for years after his death. Possibly longer, if the world had lived long enough to take lessons from the past rather than trying to survive the future.

Artemis was there, looking down at the man like he was a terrible and dirty inconvenience.

“Help..” Luke croaks out and Artemis raises an eyebrow. Whatever manipulations he used on Annabeth were not going to work on The Goddess of the Hunt.

“Give me a good reason not to cut you down now, thief,” Artemis says, already pulling out her bow with a hardened look in her eyes.

“If you kill me, the sky will fall.” Luke answers, sweat trinkling down his face as he struggles to hold the weight of a primordial being on his very mortal shoulders.

“Then you shall suffer here,” Artemis lowers her bow but does not soften a bit, “consider this the punishment for your fickle loyalty.”

Luke grits his teeth, anger growing in his eyes, “I can’t hold this up forever, you know… I’m only half god. I will die here and the sky will fall.”

“Your allies too selfish to take the burden on for themselves, Child?” The Goddess says, an almost taunt. This boy almost caused a war within her family after centuries of peace, her usual calmness was gone.

“Maybe,” Luke grits his teeth, “But all that means is that the mortal world will be done with my death and where will your entertainment come from then, oh great goddess?”

This makes Artemis’ eye harden. Maybe she didn’t agree with Luke’s clear resentful view on the gods but he did have a point with the world falling into disorder with Luke’s death.

“With that death, we will simply replace you with some other foolish man.” She says.

“Foolish enough to take on the sky?” Luke asks, eyes narrowing in both physical strain and anger.

“There is no shortage of foolish mortals.” Artemis puts her bow away as the only threat was trapped under a primordial being.

“Sure, find one, but will you find them in time before the whole sky comes crashing down? A few seconds is all it takes before Olympus topples. Leave now, and you doom your family years before the prophecy predicted.” Luke spat, voice strained as the goddess seems to actually think over her options. The Goddess hated the boy’s arrogance but she can see how he had charmed Ares into letting him go. She cannot force a mortal, as they will not be able to handle the weight. She can’t force any half blood or other titan, because the burden must be taken willingly. Her grip on her bow tightens as she sees Luke grow weaker with every second, face pale and completely drenched in sweat. Who knows how long Luke had been there, who knows how much longer he can last until his mortal blood drowns his strength. The consequences of inaction were clear: her family, both blood and chosen, will die and any life she sought to protect will be crushed with them.

“Don’t think of it as mercy, Goddess,” Luke continues, knowing he has her hooked, “Think of it as doing your job.”

“Do not mock me,” She glares at the man, “Your weakness is an inconvenience, but I will not let the world crumble because of it.”

She is sure that her family will send for her. With that the goddess takes the sky and Nico wakes up with a gasp.

Nico doesn’t take the time to answer any questions from the half asleep Apollo children, throwing on his coat and running to the Big House. There, Zoe was arguing with Argus as the man refuses to let her in.

“I suggest you let her in,” Nico calls, pulling his coat close to him as the winter air bites at his bare feet, never having put on shoes before he rushed over, “It seems we both have news.”

“Prophet,” Zoe starts, “What have you seen?”

“The same as you, I predict. Dreams are never so clear but a vision might shed light on any questions,” He says, stepping up onto the porch. He was about half the size of them both and about 1/200th of their ages, at least in Zoe’s case, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him from staring up at Argus determinedly.

“Let us in,” Nico says calmly but sternly.

“No,” Argus says, never one for many words. The security guard crosses his arms over his chest, many of them still closed like his body was still too tired this early into the morning to be all there.

“Pray, instruct that centaur to emerge forthwith, you fool! The Lieutenant of Artemis and the Prophet of Apollo command it!” Zoe yells, delving into old-fashioned speak in her anger. He lets her speak even when she so brazenly uses his title against the giant, making him feel a little like an arrogant prick.

The centaur she was yelling for opens the door, in his pajamas and curlers in his horse tail.

“Please, please, let us all calm down here..” Chiron sighs, clearly coming straight from bed.

“Blasted man!” Zoe wastes no time, “The Hunters need to leave immediately.”

“I’m afraid that is not possible, not without permission from Artemis.” Chiron says calmly. Dealing with many powerful demigods who often get in over their heads makes him a particularly patient man.

“How can we get permission from Lady Artemis if she is gone?” The lieutenant says seriously. The half-man blinks, decidedly more awake now.

“Come inside,” Chiron starts, glancing around behind them to make sure no one is there, “We must not speak here.”

The two rush in, the warmth of the Big House doing nothing to soothe Zoe’s nerves.

“You’ve only been here for a day and you’re already causing trouble,” Mr. D says, fully dressed and drinking a Diet Pepsi like an alcoholic to a beer at 8 am on a Wednesday, sitting at the poker table as if he was there all night.

“Excuse us,” Nico says calmly, knowing that the best way to get Mr. D to respect you was to be strong and respectful, as Percy often isn’t on the respect part. Mr. D waves a hand dismissively, rolling his eyes but he doesn’t go straight to threatening so he was doing something right.

“We must leave immediately,” Zoe starts, standing straight and defiant as the only person she truly answers to was her patron. She only asked for permission as to not disrespect Artemis’ name and respect by behaving terribly in their hosts home.

“Yes, something about Artemis being gone?” Chiron asks seriously as if he wasn’t in his pajamas right now.

Zoe takes a breathe to steady her worry, “I was dreaming. I saw vague images, of Artemis leaving somewhere. Then, the connection with her I have felt for centuries weakened terribly, and still I do not feel her at full strength. She needs help.”

“May I?” Nico asks Mr. D, taking a seat at the poker table when the head counselor doesn’t bother to answer him with a no.

“So my half sister got herself into some trouble?” Mr. D hums, taking a sip of his drink casually.

“And where is Artemis now?” Chiron asks.

“Under the Sky.” Answers Nico.

“Yeah, you’re a prophet alright…” Mr. D sniffs at Nico’s vague response.

“You lie!” Zoe scowls down at Nico where she still stands. Most immortals don’t go into deeper detail as to what they mean because they so often talk to people who already know most of everything the world has to offer. It was annoying as an unknowledgeable demigod in his first life but now he is grateful he doesn’t have to explain things that feel like common sense a million times.

“Why would I lie about that?” Nico hums calmly in the face of the hunters anger, seeing the worry under.

“The thing about facts, is that they often don’t change based on how you feel about them.” Mr. D shakes his head, smirking into his drink and Nico nods in agreement. He was sick of adults denying dangerous people being involved because they simply hate the thought. Chiron denied his father coming back, so did Zeus, and that didn’t stop Kronos from rising up. It only made the two more vulnerable in their lack of proper preparation.

“but that would mean…” Zoe grits her teeth and looks down.

“Yes. He is out.” Nico says, trying to say the stringing words as gently as possible.

“And he has Lady Artemis… how?” Chiron hums, knowing that no one could force anyone to take on Alta’s burden.

“Luke was under there. The boy is a charmer,” Nico hums, ignoring the way Chiron stiffens at the mention of one of his beloved demigods he looked after, “Artemis was just going to leave him there but Luke argued that he would die there and the Sky would reunite with the Earth before any god could do anything about it. The Goddess took up his burden to buy you all some more time.”

Zoe scowls down at the floor, her fists clenching. Of course, her goddess would put her duty, the greater good, above her safety.

“This is.. concerning,” Chiron sighs, rubbing his face like the few last centuries were catching up to him.

“To say the least,” Mr. D huffs a laugh, “Still, no permission…”

“Thou-!” Zoe starts before Nico interrupts the fight that might brew given Zoe’s distraught state.

“What I’m sure Mr. D means is that Artemis wouldn’t want you throwing yourself into danger without a plan.” Nico says, folding his hands in front of him politely.

“How can I not knowing she would do the same for me?” Zoe says, turning her glare to Nico.

“Lady Artemis will not die there. She won’t even be injured, really.” The Son of Hades reassures, “She will need to be rescued, of course, but that will come in due time.”

“Thou speak as a Prophet or as the son of Hades?” Zoe asks, narrowing her eyes some more at Nico.

“I am both a Prophet and the Son of Hades, how can I speak as one or the other when they are so deeply intertwined?” Nico smiles, tilting his head innocently and the hunter nods in understanding only given by years of living.

“As the Di Angelo says, we will not be so hasty,” Chiron says, “Whatever the Fates have in store for us all, it will come when they say and no sooner.”

“As always,” Zoe sighs, irritated that even after all her years, bigger forces still pull the strings of her life.

“Now, are you going to join in the Poker game or can we finally get some sleep?” The God of Wine gestures to the cards he was playing on the table. It looked like he was playing by himself before anyone else woke up. Nico ignores the fact that this meant Mr. D heard their shouting and didn’t dignify it was a response.

“Men.” Zoe huffs and leaves out the front door, visibly less angry than before.

“Can we bet money?” Nico asks when Mr. D sees he was still sitting there, despite the fact he didn’t actually have any money.

“Now you’re speaking my language,” The God huffs a laugh, despite the fact money wasn’t really a thing that tempted a god who can just magic some up from the air whenever he wanted, starting up a new game and shuffling the cards.

“Perhaps you should go to sleep, young Nico,” Chiron says, ever the caretaker, even as he almost automatically takes up the cards he was given.

“Says the man with curlers still in his tail,” Nico chuckles, looking at the hand he was dealt. He spent 70 years in a casino, he’ll be damned if he can’t play a game of poker.

“Cocky, aren’t you?” Mr. D narrows his eyes at the son of Hades, “Those earrings of yours have anything to do with it?” The two immortals eye his godly blood infused earrings.

“Not at all,” Nico answers calmly, thinking over how to play his cards.

“You would think the Ancient Laws would deter my half brother from showing such blatant favoritism,” The God of Wine grumbles, giving out a handful of “buy in” chips to the two others at the table, deciding he would be the dealer tonight.

“Times are changing…” The boy hums, betting some chips after Dionysus placing the minimum bet, Chiron doing the same.

“Yes. Demigods get cockier and cockier the longer that Luke boy is around,” Mr. D says grumbles.

“I won’t deny that,” Nico says while Chiron stays quiet.

“Smart boy.”

“Luke is simply mislead,” Chiron says.

“He is an angry man who cannot be coddled anymore,” Mr. D scowls at his old friend.

“Both are true,” The Son of Hades says, “Luke is being manipulated severely but even if he gets out of…. Grandfathers,” Mr. D snorts at the title said to avoid drawing Kronos’ attention, “control, there will be no true mercy for him in life. Only in death.”

Chiron gains a sorrowful look, the face of a man who’s seen many of the children under his care die young and being unable to do anything about it. Resigned, maybe.

“How old are you again?” Mr. D asks, less hostile then normal in the face of Nico’s mature demeanor and Nico laughs, knowing he barely knew the answer himself.

Chapter Text

Nico was dead tired the next day, having gambled through the night with Mr. D and Chiron, having played a total of 5 times. Halfway through, Mr. D brought up that Nico must be misusing his prophetic visions to win so much against a man who’s been playing poker since it was invented, to which Nico had himself blindfolded and proceeded to win 3 more times. Neither immortal questioned how Nico could possibly tell what cards he had because by then the show was too funny for Mr. D to stop. By the gods, the look on Chiron’s face when he won against him 5 times in a row was beautiful. The fact that he was about 550 dollars richer wasn’t a bad thing, either. He would have kept going but Chiron wasn’t exactly rolling in cash and he decided to take pity on the poor soul.

That morning, The son of Hades went over to Percy and Grover after breakfast, planning to call them over for the Capture the Flag game that was on its way. The two were in a meadow watching some nymphs tease some satyrs, letting the half goats get ahead of themselves before the girls turned into trees before they could get caught. That's when he caught part of their conversation.

“I.. I don’t know, exactly. About three in the morning both her and Nico demanded to talk to Chiron in the Big House. Nico looks pretty determined, they both did, but the kid wasn’t even wearing any shoes despite the snow…” Grover mutters, expression a little worried.

“How do you know about this?” Percy asks.

“I reckon it’s because our dear satyr doesn’t know how to take a hint,” Nico smiles, inwardly chuckling at the way the two jump at his sudden voice.

“That-!” Grover starts, cheeks growing red but he didn’t exactly have a good argument against that.

“A word of advice, Grover,” Nico starts, “Cut your losses, lest you end up a full goat when  Artemis comes back.”

“What do you mean ‘when she comes back’?” Percy asks, eyebrows furrowed. Nico tilts his head as he thinks about whether to tell Percy or not. After all, he doesn’t really need to know….

“You, uhm..” Grover speaks up, looking nervous when Nico turns his gaze to him, “You and Zoe were really worried about something. Artemis, right? What did she mean when she said Artemis was gone? Is she in trouble?”

“How can Artemis be in trouble?” Percy asks, disbelieving and Nico raises an eyebrow at him.

“Didn’t you make a god bleed last summer?” Nico hums.

“That… well..” Percy rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, an embarrassed blush on his cheeks.

“This is different,” Grover speaks up, probably going through a variety of Hunter propaganda in his head about how great his favorite Goddess was.

“I’m sure,” Nico says dryly which the satyr ignores as he continues.

“I didn’t get to hear anything when you guys went into the Big House. How come Zoe left soon but you never came out?” The satyr asks.

“I was beating Chiron at poker,” The son of Hades smirks and shrugs.

“and about Artemis…?” Percy ask, pointedly ignoring the 11 year olds concerning confession.

“She will be fine..” Nico hums, folding his hands in front of him politely.

“But… what did Zoe mean by gone?” Grover repeats, growing frustrated after not getting any actual answers from Nico.

“What do you think?” The youngest demigod asks, lacking in any mocking or malice despite his vague responses so far. He did not want to be the one who was handing out possible god secrets. Would it even matter given the quest they were about to go on?

“You…” The half goat sighs in frustration at Nico’s vague answers, “Lady Artemis, was she taken? Kidnapped?”

“Kidnapped?” Percy scoffs, “How do you kidnap an immortal goddess?”

“It happened to Persephone,” Grover points out, Nico nodding.

“Yeah, but she was like, the Goddess of flowers,” Percy says and Nico is amazed how confidently he displays his lack of knowledge.

“Percy..” Nico gapes at the son of the sea before shaking their head, trying to put his words together, “A gods domain means little to their power. It is how many people worship them, how many know about them, or how old they are that decides that. For example, if there was a god of guns, they would be a very recent and not very powerful god. In any case, you really need to stop thinking of them as…” he sighs, rubbing his temple, not wanting to lecture Percy on how human the gods really are.

“Besides, Ares was kidnapped once too… and my step-mother was primarily worshipped as the Queen of the Underworld, with some connections to spring, as it is mainly her mothers emotions that bring and take the nice weather,” Nico explains, privately wondering how Percy was still alive, which was a little harsh thing to think but he couldn’t find it in himself to argue to himself about it.

“Whatever,” Percy grumbles, “Your step-mom, huh?” he hums, still a little on edge about another kid of the Big Three popping up, let alone the kid of Hades who he has his own personal issues with.

“Yes?” Nico asks, blinking his oddly colored grey to black eyes, not knowing where Percy was going with his questioning, “I hope you won’t start thinking little of me, Percy. I never thought lowly of you, no matter our disagreements with each others parents.”

Percy opens his mouth before realizing he doesn’t actually have anything to say to that and his cheeks redden.

“I understand there may be some issues there but please, keep an open mind.”

“I didn’t mean to…” Percy sighs as he trails off, not knowing really what to say.

“I know,” Nico chuckles, bringing a hand to his mouth to lightly cover his smile, “Make no mistake, Jackson. You are good man, but even good men have their moments. Just be mindful. Do your best and you will be your best.”

“Wow, Di Angelo, you get that from a motivational poster?” Percy chuckles, not mean-spirited.

“Oh hush.” The son of Hades huffs, cheeks growing red as Grover and Percy laugh.

That night after dinner, Nico was not allowed into the capture the flag game with the hunters. His prophetic powers apparently counted as ‘cheating’, which was completely unfair. He tried to argue that his visions didn’t extend to the game but they must have been able to tell he was lying because they still didn’t let him join. It was true he knew how the game was going to play out, if not vaguely at the back of his mind. He just had to tap into that feeling to see what was going to happen but after a couple of minutes of watching the game in his head, it being backed up since he was seeing the future of the game, and staring blankly into space, he started getting a headache so he stopped. He knows Thalia and Percy may still have underlying problems with each other given how much people are brushing off Percy these days, even Annabeth, but he doesn’t think there will be a huge fight like last time. After all, Annabeth was well and very much not kidnapped. Hopefully, she will be enough to stop them from destroying cabins.

Instead of watching that drama play out, Nico was at the infirmary helping as much as he can with Will. In the future, medical knowledge was something only a fool would pass up in knowing. He had poured over whatever books he could get a hold on, never wanting to feel helpless as his friends bleed out ever again. Currently, they just had him cutting bandages in preparation for the many injured demigods that were going to come in after the game.

Nico doesn’t get to actually cut many bandages before it feels like lightening shots his heart and spreading through his veins. It startles him so much he drops the bandages, his hands shaking as he brings them up to hold his pounding head. He hears Will’s voice, far away and muddy as the boy tries to help him up from where he collapsed. Nico shakes the boy off, not bothering to answer any of the questions he asks that he can barely hear anyway. The son of Hades was already out the door, almost slipping on the snow in his rush to run through the forest. He can feel it- something- It was like a beacon. Knowing it was there and it being so new, something he’s never felt before, it was that blazing curiosity that pushs him through the crowd of demigods to get to what they were looking.

At the edge of the lake, with demigods and Hunters parted to let her through, stood the Oracle. Being so used to Rachel as the Oracle, the sight of the mummy- the walking corpse that was puppeteered long after her death, made him sick to his stomach. Still, as the Oracle speaks, Nico can’t help but say the words with her. There was no green mist or glowing eyes with him, It was like he was just recalling something he read long ago, his eyes unseeing.

"When the moon takes the sky and the sun can see,

A shadow shall rise, a savior to be.

Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,

One heart shall still in the land without rain.

The Titan unbound seeks freedom’s cruel flight,

Yet the hunter’s resolve will hold through the night.

The bane of Olympus shows the trail,

Campers and Hunters combined prevail.

The Titan's curse one must withstand,

And one shall perish by a parent’s hand."

Then the Oracle collapses onto the grassy floor, her puppet strings cut. While everyone stands around, Nico rushes forward towards the poor girl. Her soul wasn’t underground, as far as he could tell. With the lack of funeral rites and proper burial, it was clear that her soul was still tethered to this camp just waiting for this curse to be lifted so she could actually pass on.

He puts a hand on his mouth, covering whatever noise of anger he made when he thought about just how cruel this ending was.

Mistaking the swirling emotions on his face as disgust of the corpse, Percy kneels next to him, putting a hand on his back.

“Don’t worry, she’s long dead.” Percy says, trying to comfort him with those decidedly uncomforting words.

“No, she isn’t,” Nico shakes his head, voice low but firm. “Not properly dead, anyway. No funeral rites, not burial, no coin- after her prolonged years of torture, she still has no peace in the one place it should be guaranteed.”

He lets out a shaky sigh as he takes in the sight of the Oracle, who wears a tie dye dress suggesting so much personality and story all in one piece of clothing.

“You should be ashamed of this.” Nico says, turning to glare at Chiron. The demigods here have not lived long enough to think like how he or the immortals at camp think, but Chiron should surely understand why this was a disgusting thing to support or ignore.

“I am.” Chiron says, not bending in his stance even with the regret in his voice. He understood to some level why this was a terrible fate but like the deaths of his demigods, he was resigned to do nothing about it.

“How do you suggest we fix this, oh righteous hero?” Mr. D hums, still holding a bag of treats he was feeding Peleus with. Unlike the mocking that would have usually been in his voice when talking to a demigod, the god sounded merely skeptical to what surprises this particular demigod will show next.

“The curse stops the spirit of Delphi from moving onto another host but that does not mean that the spirit itself cannot leave this body, just that it can’t enter another.” Nico reasons, standing up with a determined look on his face.

“I can try to move the spirit into a container- an object unliving so that the curse doesn’t count. When that works-“

“If,” Mr. D interrupts.

“When,” Nico continues firmly, “When it works, I will start this poor girl’s funeral rites. I pray her soul will pass on to a much nicer place than the edge of River Styx.”

“Try as you like, I won’t stop you,” Mr. D sighs.

“I’ll need help, moving the body- just one more person,” Nico says, turning to the crowd of Hunters and demigods who stand around awkwardly, not really sure what to do, neither do they want to be the first person to step up.

“Please, she was just a girl once.” The son of Hades continues, eyes turning to Zoe, who takes a step forward with a determined look in her eyes. Probably thinking about how the Oracle started her job as a young girl and also vowed to remain without romance her whole life, a good amount of Hunters helped Nico bring the body into the big house. Nico sets up a bed for her on a table, setting her down there after laying a cloth he found in the attic over it.

Out of respect for the Oracle’s vows, Nico leaves the room as some of the oldest Hunters wash and dress the body to the best of their ability with the lack of actual funeral clothes. So many demigods die each day, Camp Half-Blood long since given up the drawn-out funerals of old. Still, they do what they can in such a short time.

Nico ignores the looks of curiosity and some judging as he practically glides into the forest. Once he found a clearing in the forest, he starts up a small fire. He takes a breathe and dumps a whole steak into the fire, wishing he had a fresh animal to sacrifice. When the smoke starts to darken and dance in the air, Nico gets on his knees and prays for answers.

Nico snuck into the Arts and Crafts cabin, spending the night sewing and painting a burial shroud as quietly as he could as to not alert the Harpy’s. He knew nothing of the Oracle personally but a good long talk with Apollo let him know how she was like from his perspective. His friend admits he doesn’t have much information for him as he never talked casually with the girls, at least not for long, something he now regrets. Every day the god remembered or was reminded of the people he wronged, people he never thought twice about. He tries to make up for it now, by telling Nico all he could remember about the girl.

That’s how Zoe found him, hunched over a brightly colored shroud that screamed personality. It almost reminded him of Rachel, the brightness that refused to be contained.

When he notices Zoe and her raised eyebrow, Nico chuckles.

“She loved the 70s,” The son of Hades smiles and Zoe nods in understanding.

“You are doing a good thing for this girl.” Zoe says, far less hostile than ever before.

“Her life was prolonged and unfair,” Nico says, straightening up, “The least I can do is make sure her death is peaceful.”

Then he notices how Zoe was wearing her backpack, clearly packed and ready to leave any minute. They must have had the counselor meeting while Nico and some Hunters did their parts for the Oracle.

“I wanted to come here to apologize. I’m off to find my Lady, I won’t be able to help thou any more with the funeral,” Zoe says, back straight and voice firm, almost like she was reporting to him.

“Why would you ever need to apologize for such a thing?” Nico chuckles softly, “You’re help yesterday… it was enough and I am truly grateful. I’ll be fine on my own here, you are needed elsewhere.”

“Even so, I have ordered the Hunters left to help with anything you need pertaining to the funeral.” Artemis’ lieutenant says in an awkward tone of voice as if she had never extended her hand towards a man before in her life. In fact, that may be the case…

“Thank you,” Nico gently pushes the shroud of this lap and onto the table, “I will need help with this shroud. My god only really said things about bright colors and I can’t figure out a way to not make it look like a small child’s drawing…”

“Yes, well…” Zoe eyes his questionable-looking burial shroud he made, “Be not worried. Many girls of the Hunt have… the ability  to help….” She says slowly and Nico laughs at her desperate attempts to not be rude.

“So, you’ve decided on quest members already, I take it? At the meeting, I mean,”  The son of Hades finally asks, mostly to hear it straight from Zoe’s mouth and what she feels about it.

“Yes,” The Hunter’s eyes narrow, frustration shimmering beneath her calm attitude, “Those Hermes boys poisoned one of my chosen.”

“Ah, so that happened already…” Nico hums, looking out the window to see the sun had already set. From what he remembered, it was night when the group left and Pheobe had to have been poisoned by then.

“By thou words, I take it that fate is what bedbound her,” Zoe sighs, the anger draining from her, replaced by plain annoyance as decisions were made beyond her reach, in the strands of existence. Nico chuckles good-heartedly and nods.

“Have you chosen someone to replace her?” The boy asks, wondering if she decided that this time. Before, she didn’t, saying there was no time. But it seemed that his words at the Big House reassured her, as she wasn’t running to the quest without proper preparation like last time.

“Yes, that Annabeth girl,” The Hunter answers, thinking over the daughter of Athena in her head.

“Oh? What made you chose her, if you don’t mind me asking?” Nico asks, putting down the paintbrush he was using to give the shroud some color.

“She seemed eager to prove herself. A strong girl, mind and body,” Zoe hums.

There was a pause as both try to think of a way to end the conversation politely.

“Well, then here we will part…” Nico says, smile fading as he remembers just what her quest will be like. Knowing- no, feeling the way Zoe was slowing down. Maybe year by year she was as fast as she always was but her heart and mind are being dragged along. Like the Oracle, Zoe was getting close to what was a long time coming, something she herself had accepted and waited for. He knows Zoe is ready to go and this makes Nico sigh sadly, gripping the bottom of his shirt as he tries to come up with the proper words to say.

Seeing Nico’s dejected expression and the double meaning behind his words, Zoe looks down, contemplating the implications. Noticing how there was no despair or worry in her eyes, Nico knew it really was her time which makes him sigh again. He knows that when it was a persons time to leave, not even the gods could do anything after that thread being cut. Still, he wishes it didn’t mean this was the last time he was going to talk to one of his only friends during this time.

“Zoe,” Nico starts, voice firm and stance determined despite the sadness swimming in his eyes, ”You will find what you were looking for.”

Like the veteran she is, years as a warrior making her wise and strong even in the face of death, Zoe nods firmly and leaves the cabin as if she would be back by tomorrow after this hurdle.

He has no right to stop Zoe from finally getting some peace, but what of his sister? Bianca was too young to go, only had her freedom for a week before she died and Nico spent days hunting her soul down so she couldn’t even rest then. If he had asked Zoe out right, she would say it was her time. If he asked the same of Bianca, she probably won’t have an answer. Or at least not one given with 100% certainty. She’d say it would be an honor but she would only say that because it’s something she would be expected to say, not because a 12 year old would truly believe that.

When the time comes, he’s saving his sister.

Nico rubs the sleep from his eyes and leaves to gather the Hunters for help.

The Hunters left behind, who had any that had the talent for it, helped Nico fix up his attempt at colorful burial shroud. The morning crisp air bites at his hands as the group works gently over the cloth. The cabin was filled with quiet murmurs as they discussed the best way to improve the design or adding intricate embellishments to reflect what they knew about the Oracle. Mostly sun and flower motifs in the most tasteful way they can make them.

They got permission from Mr. D to use one of his old glass vases. Apparently, it used to hold wine but he didn’t exactly have use for it anymore given his punishment and the way the vase grew out of style a few centuries back.

It took forever to carve a lid for the vase as Nico never even attempted wood craving before but every time he thought about half asses anything, he thought back to the girl who is definitely still in that deteriorating body of hers, stuck for a crime she didn’t commit, and he thinks of more ways to honor the poor girl. It was starting to become a funeral for a honored member of society which was no less than what the girl deserved after all she’s done for both the demigods and the gods themselves.

Making a top for the vase, because vases didn’t typically come with tops let alone wood to a glass vase. Choosing a nice vase at all instead of just drawing a rune with a sharpie on a cookie tin and being down with it…

“For fucks sake, kid…” Mr. D sighs, cradling a Diet Coke in one hand as he sits back and watches Nico carve a rune into the vase top delicately, “You never even knew the girl.”

“It’s because I never knew her that I have to do this.” Nico sighs as he has to make up a rune. There wasn’t a rune made for what he wanted to do, to keep the soul secure and the glass from breaking. Without a gods blessing or powers, he had to rely on his mortal hands and powers to figure out how to make it secure enough to hold such a powerful spirit. The souls of the girl and the Spirit of Delphi were interwoven with each other, now more so than ever because of what his father did.

“No one knew her,” Nico continues, “decades of pushing her deteriorating body to give those demigods what they wanted and no one here even knows what her name was. She must have had one and yet, even Chiron must have forgotten it some time ago.”

The son Hades sighs, knowing that the half-horse probably didn’t want to usurp his memory of his old friend with the thing that lays in the Big House now.

“After all she has done, she doesn’t deserve to be left behind like this,” The boy blows away the last pieces of wood he carved off, inspecting the rune he had to make up on the spot. Creating one wasn’t so hard once you learned that it was basically a language you could learn. Making one on the spot was always the best way to go about it, given as making a personal one makes it easier for him to get the exact one he needed.

Mr. D was quiet for a moment, looking down at demigod, a far away look in his eyes as if remembering something from long ago.

“I can’t believe it took centuries for a demigod to understand that.” Mr. D sighs and Nico gets the feeling he wasn’t talking about this exact scenario. With that, the god puts a hand on the top. The carving flickers purple for a second before Mr. D takes his hand away.

“Just an extra boost, a one time thing.” Mr. D says before Nico could even ask what he did, standing up and leaving without another word.

“Extra boost…” The boy hums, inspecting the vase top that had stopped glowing. Whatever the god did, it felt powerful, a little like when Apollo infused his earrings with his blood but far less extreme and therefore less powerful. Still, it was something to take of note and Nico decided not to question Mr. D sudden good will. In his first life it took longer to break through that gruff exterior.

Nico sighs and rubs his face, as if trying to rub the exhaustion off. The shroud, the pyre they still have to make, not to mention he still has to separate the girls soul from the Spirit of Delphi… He just hopes it’ll work given he’s never actually done such a thing before. Then again, he was the King of Ghosts, so he’ll be damned if he can’t at least call the girl's soul.

He holds the large vase to his chest as he walks through camp, looking for Percy. When he finds the guy, he was slashing at some straw dummies with restless energy.

“Percy?” Nico asks, startling Percy out of his focus. Seeing his confused look, Percy straightens up from his fighting stance, wiping sweat from his brow.

“How you can bear to fight in this weather, I don’t know,” Nico chuckles, his breathe visible in the freezing air.

“I just needed to clear my mind,” Percy says, a corner of his lips quirking in slight amusement and Nico decides not to ask seeing as the other also avoids his gaze despite the amusement.

“Well, I wanted to ask for some help…” Nico says, holding up the large vase to him.

“A…. vase?”

“It’s to hold the Spirit of Delphi. I need to cleanse it with the water at the lake but uhm…” Nico chuckles, “I’d rather keep my distance from the water.”

“What? The nymphs are nice, promise,” Percy says, visibly confused though he still takes the vase from him.

“It is not the nymphs I worry about,” The son of Hades sighs, already walking towards the lake that wasn’t far from the training grounds.

“What? Your scared of my dad?” Percy blinks, as if thinking his father would something like that just because of who Nico was something that never crossed his mind.

“You would never fly,” Nico points out, “That and you won’t go to the Underworld if not forced.”

“Yeah but…” The son of Poseidon starts before sighing, “No, you’re right.”

“In the end, he is still a god.” Nico says before stopping some steps away from the frozen-over lake, just in case.

“So what do I do?” Percy asks, giving the vase a look-over.

“Just swish it around in the lake water like you’re rinsing a plate,” Nico instructs, pulling his jacket closer to himself as the wind starts to pick up. The son of the sea nods and uncaps his pen, stabbing the ice with Riptide a couple of times so the hole was big enough for the vase. Once that was done, he crouched down to dunk the vase into the water. He does it two more times, dunking it and dumping the water until he figured that was enough.

“Why’d you need to clean it anyway? The Oracle not a fan of germs?” Percy chuckles, standing up and handing Nico the vase back who cradles it to his chest with a firm grip, nervous it will slip out his grasp.

“Waters good for cleansing, spirit-wise, I mean. It gives it a clean slate all around, it’s a little like a sign of respect. In any case, It used to be Mr. D’s. I wouldn’t want any of that party energy sinking into the Spirit, as much as she probably would’ve liked to have one last hurrah,” Nico huffs a laugh and Percy nods in understanding.

“Could you... do me another favor?”  The son of Hades starts after the other dries the vase with a single touch for him.

“What is it?” Percy hums absentmindedly.

“Could you.. well, I’m going to try to separate the woman’s spirit from the Spirit of Delphi. They’re really intertwined, almost like two yarn balls that fought a cat or something… I’ve never actually tried anything like that before, it’s not something that happens everyday or something to be messed with..” Nico says, the son of Poseidon now paying attention.

“Anyway, I need to have all my focus in separating the two. I’m good with souls and Apollo gave his permission to handle the Spirit of Delphi and well… I want you to guard the door, yeah? I can’t have anything breaking my concentration and..” Nico chuckles, cheeks reddening because he didn’t exactly want to say it out loud but being more open hasn’t failed him before. At least after the second war, that is.

“You’re kind of the only guy around I trust, with my sister gone and everything.” The younger admits. He knows from experience that Percy was a pretty good guy, all things considered. It was one of the things that drew him in so much when he was actually 11, all those years ago. He knows better than to idolize him now as life is full of complications, people even more so. He’d like to start their friendship off better then it did before, with them just being Nico and Percy and none of that complicated stuff with Bianca’s death.

Percy was quiet, mouth slightly open as if shocked by his words. He tried so hard to look after Nico and gets surprised when the son of Hades actually looks to him for help?

“Are you going to help or not?” Nico grumbles, now embarrassed.

“Sure,” Percy hums, following Nico to the Big House. The younger takes up shop in the Oracle’s old attic. The Hunters had left the body on three tables pushed together, almost like an operating table for surgery, two tables for the body and the other table for the soul. Being the only tables around that weren’t the dining tables, this was the best they could do.

Percy keeps his word and stands outside, as terrible as that is for a kid with ADHD. As Percy starts to regret agreeing to do nothing for goodness knows how long, Nico locks the door behind him and sets up the glass vase next the Oracle’s head.

“Ok..” The 11 year old sighs, looking down at the lifeless form of the girl he promised to save, “How in the world am I going to do this…?”

Nico runs through what he could actually do to separate the two beings from this one body. Deciding the best way to solve this problem would be to start the challenge and then go from there, Nico summons the amalgamation that was the soul and spirit with the whisper of a prayer to his father and Thanatos, knowing Death would want the soul that slipped through his fingers where it belongs.

With new found confidence, Nico slowly lifts the combined spirits out of the body, very carefully as to not trigger the spirit to try and enter a new host. Which, terribly, would have been him. The soul and spirit were tangled to a disgusting degree. It was unnatural and must be painful for the poor girl. This woman’s whole being was trying desperately to rip itself away from the spirit who was much too powerful to be bested by a mortal woman.

 Determined to follow through with his promise and to not go insane in the process, he slowly detangles the beings as best as he can. The spirit kept slipping from his hands, trying so hard to stick to the woman while also being a wisp of a being. It glowed green with Apollo’s blessing while the mortal soul was a dull green, like the spirit's power seeped into it over the years.

He could feel it’s power surrounding him and he’s glad for his patron’s protection through his earrings because otherwise the amount of Ouranic power around him would have made his half-Chthonic head spin.

He feels delicate hope well up in him when the spirit starts to pull away from the girls soul. He draws strength from the blood infused in his earring which was the wrong thing to do as the spirit reacts violently to the familiar energy, shooting up his arm to try and enter him. He shuts his eyes and shoves the thing in the vase quickly, slamming the carved top to trap it inside.

Even when he avoided the blinding green light, he can hear echoes of the spirit in his head. It was too quiet to hear it’s words but so unbearably loud that he falls to the ground, too dizzy to keep standing. It was like it’s whispers were clawing at his very soul. His hand flies to his head, trying to soothe the ringing that envelopes his mind.

Far away, he hears the door slam open and hands help him up. Nico leans into Percy’s strong hold, trying to hide away from the small green light coming from the vase, the color haunting him.

He hears Percy yell out for Chiron and Nico hisses as the loudness shots pain through his head again. There was a galloping of hooves rushing into the room and the son of Hades pants like he just ran a marathon, his body and mind strained.

“Your eyes-“ Chiron starts, holding Nico’s face, “Open them, let me see-“

With great effort, Nico pries his eyes open and the half horse sighs in relief when he sees that the boys eyes were not green.

“Still… sound of mind…” Nico pants, his migraine felt killing but he needed Chiron to know that the Oracle didn’t shatter his mind with it’s nightmaric visions. How can those visions scare him when he had already lived that terrible future? He groans in pain, shaking his head and casting the memories out of his mind.

If he fails this miracle he earned through his own bloody hands, he’ll beg for a bolt of lightening to hit him himself. The Oracle doesn’t scare him, let it damn him.

Nico looks up, squinting at the glowing green orb that knocked itself at the wooden top. Every time it did, the top glowed a faint purple until the Spirit gave up and just floated there.

A laugh of disbelief runs through him before he collapses once more in a heap of relief.

It worked.

“That’s part one done…” Nico sighs, wincing when his temple stings.

“The hard part is over, child,” Chiron says, helping Nico stand once more, “save your strength and rest. You have done enough.”

The son of Hades nods, relaxing and letting himself be passed to Percy like a young child ready for bedtime. He’ll be embarrassed about it later but he was too tired now.

The next morning, again, Nico was dead tired. He woke at the earliest light, having to drag himself out of bed, careful not to wake anyone else in the Apollo cabin. They were early risers but certainly not this early. Walking around in the cold, no one around, it gave him some peace. He didn’t know about the Oracle, but he felt at home in the cold. He took his time walking  through the camp, letting himself savor the moment of calm before breakfast was brought out.

Some Hunters were out and about, their time living out in the woods making them early risers. They polished or re-stringed bows, keeping themselves busy in the sun rays peeking over the horizon. He waves to them as he passes. The girls give him firm and serious nods, not warm but perfectly respectful which was more than can be said usually.

Nico yawns as he goes into the woods to check on the pyre. Seeing it untouched in the clearing, he goes to the pavilion to wait for breakfast.

As the hours pass, more and more campers join him to wait for breakfast. Nico devours some pancakes, ignoring the curious looks he got from the other campers. No one, not one asked him what was up with the Oracle. Sometimes he wonders why people need to have a reason to care so badly when situations themselves should insight anger. Why is it that these kids only would help in the Battle of Manthan for their parents approve, and not for the thousands mortals that had laid asleep all throughout the city? Why is it that the Ares cabin refused to fight over something as childish as calling dips?

The memories of the battle, seeing how empty the Cabin of Apollo was after the fact, he can not understand how someone- anyone- can stand by like that. His full belly churns at the thought that the only way he would be able to get them to fight would be to bring up Selena’s death rather than the death of about hundred Apollo kids simply because their cabin leader knew Selena personally.

Maybe he was being too harsh on these children who most have not ever seen a quest or even the aftermath of one, but he couldn’t help the bitterness that welled up in his heart. They didn’t even have to do anything to be considered for Elysium, just like he didn’t even have to do anything to be considered beneath them.

He rubs his cool hands over his face and sighs tiredly, pushing the bitterness down. When he pulls himself together again, he stands up.

“Time to get to work…” He mumbles and goes to recruit some Hunters to help carry the Oracle’s body out of the Big House attic and into her pyre.

There was no speech, as no one even knew the girls name let alone how she was like outside of ‘bright’. Nico doesn’t bother gathering any campers for the funeral but many Hunters stay with him, a distance away, along with Chiron and Mr. D, in respectful solemn silence as the body and shroud burn.

He doesn’t know what the immortals were thinking, but he knew what he was. He was glad he set up the pyre a long way away from the main camp, the smell of burning flesh assaulting his senses.

Nothing shows on his face as he battles with the memories of flesh burning in another context. She burnt quicker as there wasn’t much muscle or fat to her anymore. Whatever skin that clung to her bones went quick.

They stand there in silence for sometime, even Mr. D stays respectful, before he hears the sounds of footsteps and he finally tears his eyes away from terrible scene.

“The funeral started already?” Percy asks, looking both shocked and maybe a little confused, “why isn’t anyone here?”

Nico raises an eyebrow when Percy very pointedly ignores the immortals that were with him but he sighs and answers the older demigod anyway.

“I never called for them, if that’s what you mean,” The Prophet hums.

“Why wouldn’t you?” The son of Poseidon’s eyebrows furrow.

“Demigods tend to only extend their hand to people they know and ignore anyone else.” Nico hums, unable to hide his bitterness.

“That…” Percy gapes at the younger’s sudden cynicism.

“I’m sure someone would take the time out of there day,” Chiron says, making Mr. D huff a laugh next to him.

“The little Prophet is right, those heroes care for themselves and themselves only,” The god chuckles bitterly.

“I will call them,” Chiron says, determined to prove his campers empathic.

“If you go, they will come only because they look up to you so much.” Nico says, hands folded in front of him politely, opting out of also pointing out Chiron’s authority over the campers.

“Make my dear nephew go,” Mr. D chuckles sarcastically, “they like to praise the boy so much but many don’t have personal stake on him enough to be influenced.”

Nico knows this must be a ploy to just push Percy away from the funeral he so rudely interrupted and brazenly talked in the middle of. That, and the god simply didn’t like him.

Percy was quiet, clearly thinking over the others words. He remembers his first days at camp, when he was revealed to be the son of Poseidon. The way people talked behind his back, how used he felt when Annabeth jumped into his quest after analyzing him like his only purpose was to go on that life endangering quest just so she could finally leave camp. Or how it seemed at first like Grover only stuck around because it was quite literally his job. The only person that felt truly on his side was Luke, and he knows full well how that turned out. Sometimes, he still feels the sting of the scorpion.

He thinks back to how he first thought of Nico when he was claimed and feels guilty. Like the campers, his first instinct was to treat Nico differently when the boy didn’t do anything out of the ordinary.

“Maybe we should be better at showing up for each other…” Percy sighs, conflicted.

“This place suffers from division. Cabinmates stick together rather than understanding that it is because we are all demigods that we should stick together,” Nico starts, “stereotyping is also a problem…”

“Stereotyping?” Percy blinks.

“For example, the Aphrodite cabin. Tell me, do they ever pick up weapons? No. Now, let me tell you why. No one expects to. No one pushes them to. They hear who their mother is and assume them all frivolous because that’s how they view the goddess. In turn, that’s how those kids see themselves and how they will act. To fulfill everyone predetermined ideas about them.” The son of Hades continues before turning back to the pyre, already over the conversation.

“I can talk to the others. Not about, y’know- that stuff you said about stereotyping but I might be able to get some campers to show up here….” The son of Poseidon says, taking a step towards the younger, “You don’t have to do it all alone.”

“Go on, Jackson.” Nico hums calmly, staring into the fire, “I beg of you, prove me wrong.”

With that, Percy walks back into the woods towards camp.

“You expect too much of people…” Chiron sighs next to him.

“I expect nothing from people, especially them. Yet still, I find myself disappointed.” Nico rubs his cold hands together.

“You’ll get used to it.” Mr. D hums, taking a swing from Diet Coke, tipping it towards the pyre as if saluting The Oracle.

Nico says nothing, watching the last of the shroud burn away. Sunrays shine directly onto the pyre, signaling Apollo’s attention. He says nothing when Mr. D pats his back and leaves. He says nothing when more footsteps join him. Looking to his side, he sees why Mr. D left early. A good portion of the Apollo cabin and kids of Chthonic gods take the time to watch the last of the flames with him.  It was few but plenty.

Nico and Percy share a smile.

Chapter Text

Nico pants, sweat clinging to his forehead as he swings at the training dummy again. Percy stands to the side, evaluating his skills. To the other, this was the first time Nico had ever picked up a sword. To Nico, he had never put down his weapon.

The sun blazed over him, making it a warm day compared to the usual winter day though it was still freezing. He had to pass the time until Zoe’s quest made it to the land with no rain, hoping he could stop Bianca’s death then. He knew better now than to trust his loved ones lives to other people, no matter how skilled they were. He trusted Percy now, after years of hard work on that front, but if he wanted this to go right, only he knew how things would play out.

“Maybe you should take your jacket off,” Percy suggests.

“First off,” Nico straightens from his fighting stance to take a breather, “no one is as crazy as you to walk out here in jeans and a regular hoodie.”

“I run warm,” Percy shrugs, humor in his voice and stance nonchalant.

“Second of all, I popped out the womb with this jacket on,” Nico continues past the interruption, “so no.”

“Yeah, I believe that,” Percy sighs, shaking his head. Nico cracks a smile at the older’s faux seriousness as he examines the camp-provided sword in his hand. It was the standard size, made by the Hephaestus cabin kids with the usual celestial bronze. He missed his own sword desperately. The bronze sword was fine but it didn’t perfectly fit into hand and it was clear the metal was for Olympian kids. His sword was made of Stygian iron, the perfect metal for a child of Hades like him. Made for and can only be used by him, there was a connection there that could not be replicated.

He had forged the sword himself, sneaking the metal away from under his father’s nose and forging it under Minos’ instructions. As terrible as the man was, the shade did prove useful looking back on it. Though, since he already knows what to do, what training regime to go through (after tweaking it to actually be healthy) and the knowledge Minos would have bestowed upon him then Nico didn’t actually need to deal with the man all over again. Which was a relief as he was a huge pain in the ass.

“Alright, I think I’m done,” Nico sighs, letting the hand fall limp in his tiredness. He had spent hours trying to build his body back to what it was. He knew exactly how to swing his sword but lacked the physical strength to go through with it. It was like memorizing a book and now he has to actually put his knowledge to use. It was terribly annoying as his muscles would move automatically only to find he couldn’t swing fast enough.

“You’re pretty good,” Percy says, eyeing the bronze sword Nico picked up rather than the standard wooden sword, “A natural.”

“That means something coming from an actual natural,” Nico chuckles. Nico only looked impressive because he already knew the knowledge on what to do while Percy was born to swing Riptide.

“Yeah…” Percy says, looking a little conflicted as he looks down to his sword, examining it with a thoughtful look on his eyes.

“What’s wrong…?” Nico asks, growing confused and a little worried at Percy’s sudden melancholy.

“Nothing, just seems like there’s impressive demigods around every corner,” Percy hums.

“What do you mean?” Nico’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Luke, me, you… Thalia, Annabeth..” Percy names, “There hasn’t been impressive heroes like now since Ancient Greece.”

Nico nods and hums thoughtfully as he thinks over Percy’s words. He never really thought about it, but Percy’s words ring true. The older doesn’t know it yet, but the Great Prophecy was going to be the least of his problems. Year after year, bigger and worse enemies emerge with more powerful demigods to fight them. It was like the Fates wanted the Greek Pantheon to fall, like all empires eventually do. After all, it should not have lasted this long given the way life usually goes in cycles.

Nico shakes the thought from his head, “Let’s just focus on surviving.”

“It feels like that’s all I do lately,” Percy scoffs, “I can’t relax in camp, can’t relax outside of it. When will it end?”

The Prophet looks away from Percy’s expectant gaze, knowing the question wasn’t rhetorical.  Percy’s grip on his sword tightens at Nico’s lack of response, knowing his silence didn’t signal anything good. The Great Prophecy put thousands of lives on his shoulders, some sort of decision Percy has to make that will change everything for better or for the worst.

“I never really thought about it,” Nico says instead of checking the future, “I guess as soon as I… awakened, I figured this is all I will ever be.”

His words were true. In the past, present, and future, Nico had never thought about being anything other than a demigod. Half of the reason was the number of prophecies that just kept rolling in, the endless quests he was sent on or problems for him to fix as his father's errand boy. The other reason was that he simply had no where else to go. He could always visit Hazel or his friends but he never had any roots anywhere outside of the Underworld, where there was always a room waiting for him, as morbid as that sounded to some people.

“You’re more than just a fighter, Nico,” Percy frowns, the youngers words hanging heavy in his heart, “We all are.”

Nico meets the others eyes, knowing his words were for himself as much as it was for Nico.

“I’m going to see if Chiron is up for another round of poker,” The son of Hades sighs, ignoring Percy’s baffled expression. Nico could not be bothered to act like a normal 11 year old, it would just be too much work. Being underestimated is fine and well in a fight but he could not keep up that lie for long in everyday life. Besides, he’s always hated people looking down on him, even if he had enough sense to power through it half the time. So maturity and gambling it is.

Nico sheaths his practice sword, planning to pass the time until he had to shadow travel to Bianca.

“Hey..” Percy starts when he realizes Nico hasn’t caught his breath after a couple of minutes, “Maybe you should get some water.”

“Yeah…” Nico sighs, still panting and bringing two fingers up to his temple. He winces as pain shoots through his head, a headache forming. Percy’s eyebrows furrow, his concern growing into alarm when the grey that surrounded Nico’s pupils suddenly enveloped the deep brown of his eyes.

“Nico!?” The Prophet hears Percy’s panicked voice faraway but he can’t focus on him when a vision slams into his head, making him topple over and gasp harshly.

It wasn’t getting the vision that made him gasp but what he saw.

The Nemean Lion, the size of a pick-up truck comes barreling towards the group. Zoe and Bianca try to shoot the monster down but it’s golden fur shields it cleanly, their arrows not leaving even the tiniest of scratches.

“Back!” Thalia yells, hitting her spear against her shield. The lion growled and hissed at the shield and seemed to back off. Only Annabeth saw how the monster started to crouch and understood it was about to pounce.

“Thalia!” Annabeth called, to get both the girls and monster’s attention. The daughter of Athena ran towards the thing, ignoring the cries of her friends. Once close enough, she sprayed the thing with something in it’s eyes, making the lion roar so loud it rung in Nico’s ears. Being so close, the noise was too much and Annabeth makes the mistake of flinching at the noise. Blinded, the lion swipes in front of it, it’s claws tearing at Annabeth’s chest.

Nico is clinging to his stomach as if he was the one hit. He feels Percy pull him towards somewhere, calling for help which hurries his way. However, he can not reassure Percy that he was ok because his mind races as he rapidly thinks over what he saw.

“Annabeth,” The boy gasps gravely, making Percy, who was holding him up to freeze. Prophecies were cruel, the Fates did anything and everything for things to fall into place exactly as they were always meant to.

Annabeth wasn’t supposed to be on that quest at all.

Her death would just be the strings of reality rewriting itself to be as it should be. His interference changed everything but what was the point of him coming back, with all his knowledge and titles, if not to change the wrongs done towards his friends? He did not tear apart his last shreds of humanity with his bare hands just to do nothing now. If fate wants to play that game then so be it.

Nico barely thinks, only half conscious enough to reach for the shadows which readily reach for him back. With Percy clinging to him, they fall into the cold dark and land in front of Zoe.

“What-?!” Bianca gasps, taking a step back in her inexperience while Zoe quickly readies her bow once again.

Percy hisses as the world spins around him, panting as he tries to keep his head on straight. Nico on the other hand, was far worse off. The sudden vision, lack of proper sleep, training, and complete lack of experience this body had with shadow traveling had him panting and delirious on the ground, blood dripping from his nose.

“Keep shooting!” Zoe orders Bianca who readily follows her words. With Bianca’s cover, the immortal quickly checks Nico up while Percy rights himself up. The son of Poseidon was a little nauseous but that feeling was thrown out the window when he locked eyes with Thalia, who was dragging a bleeding Annabeth away from the roaring lion.

The son of Poseidon wastes no time, dashing towards the lion and slashing at it. Like before, the attack barely grazes the lion, making Percy grit his teeth in frustration.

“That won’t work!” Bianca yells, feeling the need to inform Percy of the Nemean Lion’s quirks before the man got hurt.

“Thanks for the reminder!” Percy yells snappishly. With him hitting at the lion, it was thoroughly distracted from Annabeth and Thalia, focusing it’s anger towards the bug that was Percy Jackson.

Bianca wasn’t too put off by Percy’s response, instead once again taking aim towards the beast. She makes a point to stand in front of Nico and Zoe, the immortal helping the boy up. Nico brings a hand to his bleeding nose, still a bit dazed but ultimately fine. The son of Hades watches in horror as Percy jumps onto an old fashioned silver airplane, which makes a terrible metal sound on impact and tilts, almost making Percy fall three stories.

The Lion jumps onto the plane too, the machine shaking at the added weight. Nico wondered distantly how this all looked like to the audience of mortals, who were all watching in horror as some boy performed tricks on the exhibits.

“Bianca!” Percy calls, wobbling on his two feet trying to stay balanced on the shaking airplane, “Aim for it’s mouth!”

The daughter of Hades shoots at the monster, missing as it lunges at Percy. He slides off the airplane and onto a huge model of Earth.

“Someone get them out of here!” Nico yells, ignoring the way his own voice makes his head twinge in pain, gesturing towards the groups of kids that were running around screaming. Grover rushes to usher them away as the spaceship the Nemean Lion was on cords snapped, making the exhibit crash to the floor. Annabeth was yelling at Thalia to go help Percy, already shoving a piece of ambrosia in her mouth. Seeing Annabeth’s distress at Percy fighting the lion alone, Thalia leaps off the second-floor railing and lands across from Percy on the other side of the globe. The monster regards them both, growling lowly.

When she figured that Nico wasn’t dying, Zoe rushes towards Bianca’s side. The two Hunters were on the floor above Percy and Thalia, aiming for the lion but they kept having to move around to try and get a clear shot.

“No clear shot! Get it to open its mouth!” Zoe orders, her frustration bubbling.

Nico wobbles over the to group of kids Grover was trying to rush out. The son of Hades was scowling, fully embracing the scary aura he had that had pushed people away years ago.  His serious face coupled with the blood dripping from his nose had the children running away quickly, even Grover flinched at the sight of him. With the kids gone, Nico grabs Grover’s arm and drags him over to the fight in lieu of a explanation.  

“Don’t you have any songs on those reeds of yours that could help?” Nico huffs, holding his sleeve under his nose so he doesn’t bleed all over his clothes.

“How did you-“ Grover starts before shaking his head, deciding it was better to just not question Nico, “No- nothing like that, not for monsters.”

Nico grits his teeth but he doesn’t have time to come up with something when Percy was dashing towards the gift shop while Zoe jumped down to distract the lion.

“This is no time for souvenirs, boy!” The Huntress scowls, her eyes never straying from her foe in front of her. Thalia jabbed at the roaring beast, backing away when it turned it’s attention towards her. Nico curses as he’s helpless to do anything but watch. No sword in his hand and no strength in his body, he would just get in the way.

“Percy! Get over here!” Thalia yells, making the mistake of looking towards Percy who was already rushing over but by then the lion swatted at her, sending her flying. The son of Poseidon throws Riptide at the monster, drawing its attention towards him.

Percy charged and when he was close enough, he threw what had been looking for before, a pouch of space food, straight into the thing's maw. The Lion’s eyes go wide and starts to gag like a cat with a hairball. Whenever it got the pouch out of its mouth, Percy would just throw more and more food into his mouth.

Seeing what he was trying to do, Nico yelled at Zoe to take aim.

“Now!” Percy yells when the lion had it’s mouth wide open and trying to get away from Percy. Immediately, Zoe and Bianca rained down arrows straight into the beast's maw. The lion trashes wildly as its pierced from the inside, falling backwards. Soon, it twitched into stillness and Nico could feel it go before it started to slowly turn into dust. Nico sighs in relief before quickly making his way towards Thalia and helping her up. She was dazed but fine. When she saw who was helping her, she froze for a second before clearing her throat and thanking him.

“No problem,” Nico chuckles, amused by her sudden need to treat him seriously, no doubt due to who his father is. Seeing Nico act completely normal around her, Thalia slowly relaxes though still clearly a little tense.

Nico looks up to see Bianca helping Annabeth up and was about to jump off to railing to go down but she pauses in uncertainty.

Everyone else gathers together to where they could clearly see them.

Nico blinks, his eyes going fully grey for a second before it was gone in the second blink, back to its new grey-to-black color.

“You’ll be fine!” He shouts up towards his sister, making Zoe nod. It was unclear who’s word made Bianca jump but he decided not to think about it. With Annabeth in sights, Percy and Thalia rush to check her over.

Having little relationship with the girl, Zoe instead looks over towards the fully melted lion, which left behind a glittering fur coat which was shrinking to the size of a normal lion’s pelt.

“Jackson.” Zoe starts, gaining the other attention. When she holds up the pelt towards him, Percy stares at her.

“Uh, isn’t that an animal rights violation?” The man questions.

“It’s a spoil of war,” The Hunter responds, clearly would have been rolling her eyes if she was about 3 hundred years younger, “It rightly belongs to thine.”

“You killed it,”

Zoe shook her head, now almost smiling, “Your strategy did that. Fair is fair, Percy Jackson.”

“Just take the fur.” Nico sighs when Percy looked like he was still reluctant. The other demigod sighs when it was two against one and takes the pelt. They all watch as the pelt shifted and changed into a coat- a full length golden brown duster coat.

“Fashionable,” Thalia deadpans, making Nico chuckle.

“Yeah, not really my style..” Percy murmurs and goes to put it on.

“Maybe Annabeth should wear it for now,” The son of the Dead says, gesturing towards Annabeth’s shirt which had a giant claw mark that ripped through it. Now noticing it, Zoe and Thalia were quick to shield her. Nico takes a respectful step back while Percy and Grover practically jump away. Face red, Percy holds the coat towards Annabeth’s direction and Nico can’t help but laugh at how dramatically Percy kept his head turned away.

“We have to get out of here, The security guards won’t stay confused for long,” Grover says, cheeks only a little rosy from embarrassment. Looking around, Nico could see that the guards were scrambling in all directions except theirs, some running into the walls or each other.

“You did that?” Percy asks Grover, who nods.

“A minor confusion song,” The satyr says, now looking embarrassed for another reason, “Some Barry Manilow, it works every time.”

“Forget the guards- look!” Bianca points outside. Through the glass walls of the museum, groups of men walk across the lawn. They wore grey camouflage outfits, ironically making them stand out more. The men had their gazes fixated on Zoe, who meets their eyes with a cold hard look.

“They are after you,” Nico says, turning his head to Zoe. The other blink at his casual words and Zoe’s practically unfazed nod.

“We must go, and you shall come with us,” The Hunter responds, looking at Nico and Percy.

“What? But you said you’d never quest with a boy?” Percy gaps.

“I know what I said,” Zoe scowls at the son of Poseidon, “But The Prophet appeared from the shadows with thee , ‘A shadow shall rise, a savior to be.’ Fate has spoken over me once again.”

Nico makes no argument at that, simply following the immortal as she turns and begins walking. Thalia scowls, visibly irritated at Zoe walking off without another word as if they were bound to follow. Still, she and the rest rush behind her into the van.

Once driven far enough away, Annabeth speaks out loud what Nico had been thinking.

“We now have seven members of this quest,” She huffs, a hand instinctively on her already healed wounds as if to hold herself together, “The prophecy only called for 5. Going against it- its dangerous.”

Zoe sighs, “Thou are correct. There is no going against fate, not when it is set in stone. The world will weed out what it deems unnecessary.”

“To put it simply, some of us might die outside of the two already prophesied deaths,” Nico hums.

“Well, the prophecy never mentioned anything connected to me. I can head back to camp…” Percy thinks out loud, sitting close to Annabeth, ready to help her if she shows even a hint of pain. Given his reluctance, it's clear he didn’t feel comfortable leaving Annabeth when she was on this quest, as injured as she was. Face to face with her injuries, her death was starting to look more and more real to the boy who’s never really had to think about death before.

“No. You must stay.” Nico says firmly, making the others blink at him for his sudden tone change.

“Well don’t order me around,” Percy scowls. Even if he agreed with Nico’s words, his tone automatically made the stubborn man’s hackles rise.

“Forgive my tone,” Nico sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose between his pointer and his thumb, “but you were meant to be here.”

“You taking me here was an accident,” The son of the Sea argues.

“An accident on my part, not on Fate’s,” Nico answers cooly, looking and sounding all like a mature prince in a war council meeting.

“So the boy stays,” Zoe says, a small sense of irritation in her voice, her lips slightly downturned in a scowl.

“Then who goes? It’s too dangerous to continue on with all seven of us,” Grover says, fidgeting with his pipes.

“Let’s see…” Nico hums, thinking back to the information he knows about this quest from both his past and the feeling’s in his gut pointing him towards a quest well done, “Zoe already pointed out that I was the shadow the prophecy spoke of. Zoe has to stay too. Thalia, Grover, and Percy as well.”

“So only me and Annabeth, huh?” Bianca scowls, her hands tightening into fists and Nico shoots her a guilty look. He didn’t want to push Bianca out of her first real chance to make something of herself but if he didn’t, she will surely die in that desert with only a week of freedom under her name. He couldn’t let that happen but if Bianca left then the number of hunters would be dwarfed by the number of campers here. That and someone else would have to take her place in dying at the land without rain.

Zoe was the one to die by a parent's hand, Percy was the one who lures in the Bane of Olympus, Nico was spoken into the prophecy for whatever reason, and Grover’s journey to find Pan kick starts here. He thinks about Thalia’s involvement, how she would call on her father's aid when the group was surrounded but Nico could easily take care of a few skeletons, with his words rather than his sword which he currently lacks. Then again, it was the statues that brought the group straight towards San Francisco and they couldn’t afford to lose the time saver that was.

“Nico?” A voice brings the son of Hades back to the present and he sees the group glancing at him with slight worry and confusion.

“You’re eyes- they went full grey…” Bianca speaks, her earlier annoyance forgotten.

“Same thing happened at camp before we appeared in front of Zoe,” Percy speaks up.

“I was.. seeing things. The future- or a future, actually, one of many. It seems my eyes change when I look towards the future…” Nico sighs. That explains why he suddenly knew about things he wasn’t ever really told before. Percy never really explained what happened on the quest after Bianca died, or even before, as it wasn’t really important at the time. So he was feeling and seeing the possibilities of reality while what was in front of him got blocked. He hadn’t noticed it during but while he was looking towards the future, he couldn’t see the present.

“So? What did you see?” Annabeth asks and Nico turns his guilt towards her. There wasn’t any reason he could think of for Annabeth to be here or any reason she would have volunteered herself in the first place.

Seeing the guilt on Nico’s face, Thalia and Percy bristle.

“What did you see?” Thalia scowls, all protective of the little girl she never got to see grow up.

“Calm yourselves,” Nico says calmly, putting his hands up as if in surrender, “I just don’t know if there’s an easy way to say this…”

“I’m not supposed to be here, huh?” Annabeth sighs, half annoyed and half resigned as if her pride and her wits were battling each other in her mind.

“Not that I can see,” Nico sighs, wincing a little at the harsh truth. Annabeth looks down, eyebrows furrowed. She doesn’t look hurt, rather she looks like her mind was racing with thoughts, as if this was a setback in a plan she cooked up and she had to think of other paths to take. Daughter of Athena, indeed.

“Still, even if you leave, one more has to go and we can’t afford anyone else here…” The son Hades rubs two fingers on his temple, feeling a headache coming on. Why must everything be so complicated!

“Here,” Percy says, handing Nico some wipes he dug around in Grover’s backpack for. The Prophet blinks, having already forgotten the mess of blood on his face.

“Thank you,” Nico coughs, wiping his face.

“Maybe you should head back…” Bianca grumbles which Nico readily ignores, instead looking out the window and up to the sky.

“We have to ditch the van,” He says to Zoe who was currently driving said van, making her look up to see the sleek black military style helicopter coming straight for them.

“Maybe the military will shoot it down,” Grover said hopefully.

“The military probably think it’s one of theirs,” Percy adds as Zoe swerved into the fast lane with the helicopter fast approaching, “How can the General use Mortals anyway? Don’t they notice the monsters?”

“They were already being paid to kill before, why would where the orders come from change anything?” Nico hums, folding the now bloody wipe, not really knowing what to do with the trash.

“How much they see through the Mist wouldn’t matter to most of them. Sometimes mortals can be more horrible than the monsters,” Zoe says bitterly, glaring out the front window as the helicopter was gaining on them, making much more progress as they didn’t have to fight with D.C traffic.

“Dad,” Thalia starts, closing her eyes and starting to pray, “A lightening bolt would be real nice about now. Please?”

There was no change in the sky, still as grey and snowy as ever.

“Can’t you summon lightening on your own? I thought I saw your spear light up with it at Westover Hall,” Nico says, clarifying when Thalia glared at him.

“I can’t exactly throw my spear at the thing. It’s not like Percy’s- it won’t come back,” The daughter of lightening scowls, “Besides, it’s the spear that generates electricity, not me.”

“I see,” The prophet hums, casual even in the face of the chase and with Zoe breaking multiple road laws, “but even if that’s the case, you can still direct it, no?”

Catching on to what he was saying, Annabeth straightens up, “So you could just shot out the electricity! Like what Percy does. He can’t summon water out of thin air but he can maneuver it- sort of like you, Thalia!”

Thalia scowls at the comparison but before she could pull out her weapon and try in a metal car full of people, Bianca yells, “There!”

“We’ll be trapped,” The immortal warns when she looks to the parking lot Bianca was pointing towards.

“Trust me!”

Zoe shoots across two lanes of traffic, making Nico and Annabeth have to hold Percy down because he didn’t wear his seat belt and almost went flying. The van stops at a mall parking lot on the south bank of the river. Bianca rushes out of the van, everyone else following with their bags in hand.

“Subway entrance, Let’s go south. Alexandira,” Bianca says. They buy tickets with the money Chiron sent with them and got through the turnstiles. Safely aboard a southbound train, they could see the helicopter circling above the parking lot when the train went above ground.

“Nice job, Bianca,” Grover sighs in relief when the helicopter doesn’t continue its chase after them, “thinking of the subway.”

“Yeah, well, I remembered seeing that station when Nico and I came through last summer. It was surprising, as I’ve never seen it when we lived here in D.C,” Bianca chuckles, looking pleased, “Everything looks so modern…”

“Modern?” Grover frowns, sharing glances with everyone else, “But that station looked really old.”

“I mean- it’s a little worn down but come on..” Bianca chuckles, “We just paid a machine to give us tickets, no ticket seller! And the doors to this thing opened by themselves!”

The more Bianca spoke, the more confused and concerned the rest got. With how much crazy stuff happens to them all the time, Thalia’s tree-time as an example, anything particularly odd tends to draw concern. After all, they weren’t like mortals who could wave off odd things, they had to pay attention lest they ignore something important. Nico winces at Bianca’s words, half guilty as he watches her dig their graves for them. His sister stops when he sees the looks on everyone’s faces.

“What?” Bianca asks, eyebrows furrowed and looking at Nico for answers.

“Maybe this is a conversation for another day,” Nico shakes his head, the rest stopping when they hear the helicopter getting louder again, likely fast approaching.

“We need to switch trains,” Percy says, pushing past the awkward moment. Bianca looks down, not assumed but definitely confused, She was thinking over what made everyone grow so concerned so suddenly and more importantly, why Nico looked so guilty then. When she looks up to her brother, he pointedly avoids her gaze. Not so out of the ordinary, he hasn’t met her eyes many times after their world got turned upside down.

No one said much over the next half hour as they periodically switch trains. They switch twice and eventually the sounds of the helicopter gets fainter and fainter until they were sure they lost it.

Unfortunately, by the time that happens, there were no more trains to get on. A dead end, an industrial area with nothing but warehouses and railway tracks. The group wonders through the railway yard, hoping that there was another passenger train around. There were rows and rows of freight cars, all covered in snow, clearly haven’t been moved in years.

They don’t find another train but they do find a lone trash can fire. With the freezing weather and lack of good quality proper clothes, they don’t think twice about surrounding it. It was a tight fit with all seven of them but they make it work by not being prickly with space.

When Nico holds his hands over the fire, the adrenalin starts to wear off. He doesn’t know why, but he leans in closer to the fire. Close enough to really feel the heat without actually feeling the fire on his face.

Left.

Nico hears it in his head, a voice he was glad to hear. Lester.

With the instructions, Nico leans away before the others could think to pull him away from the fire.

“Nico!” Bianca gasps, grabbing the back of his jacket and pulling him further away from the fire despite already being far enough away, “What the hell are you thinking?!”

“Left.” Nico says, completely unfazed. The group follows his gaze and sure enough, to the left of them had appeared an automobile-carrier train. Inside were a triple deck of cars, all high quality and far too nice to be out here in the middle of nowhere let alone to just appear out of nowhere.

“What the hell…?” Thalia murmurs, eyebrows furrowed.

“Friends in high places,” Nico hums, his hand unconsciously coming up to touch his golden sun earrings, feeling their light warmth at his fingertips.

“What? Apollo did this?” Annabeth asks, noticing his movements and putting the pieces together.

“Sh!” Nico shhs her quickly, making Annabeth gain a half-flabbergasted half-offended look.

“Sorry,” The son of Hades says, chuckling at her reaction, “But name’s have power, remember? There’s a reason he isn’t here with us right now.”

“Is something stopping him?” Percy asks, giving Nico a confused look.

“Let us just be grateful for the help,” The boy answers, climbing up into the carrier train without a care in the world. The rest follow, although a little reluctantly, the flames of the fire dying out behind them.

Everyone got their own luxury cars, which Grover seemed particularly happy about as he played race car behind the wheel of a Lamborghini. Zoe and Bianca crashed out in a Lexus on the top deck. Annabeth and Nico both take a pause when it comes time for them to make a choice too. He watches Annabeth look between the car his sister and Zoe were in and the car Thalia and Percy were in.

“Decisions, decisions…”  Nico hums, making Annabeth’s hands curl into fists, her indecisiveness getting the better of her.

“Which do I choose?” She asks, soft enough only Nico hears her.

“The right one,” He answers, reassuring but very vague, “The one that is best for you, I can at least promise that. All I ask is that you stop looking at this from the lens of a strategizer, but as the girl who will be living the life you choose here.”

The daughter of Wisdom sighs in frustration, rubbing her face. In all her life, all she ever really relied on was her wits. It’s what made her special- made her her. Now, everything is far too complicated to rely on logic alone- not when so much drags her emotions from their hiding place these days.

Annabeth hesitates, looking at the ground with her eyebrows furrowed as her mind races for the right decision. One choice made sense. The other... felt right. She lets emotion guide her once again, giving one reluctant glance towards the car the Hunters were in before taking a step towards the car where Thalia and Percy sit.

When she and Nico met eyes again, he had a small smile on his face. With this reassurance, Annabeth straightens up with confidence and makes her way to the car. When she gets inside, Nico sighs tiredly. It was exhausting, knowing what decisions people were going to make before they even knew what they were going to choose. It was times like this where Nico felt like he was waiting for everyone else to play catch up.

He looks out the opened side of the carrier train, watching the trees speed by. He was decades into the future, where the biggest problems today were long solved. The Luke problem was like child play to him, who was a part of the group who took down Krono’s mother, Gaia herself, with no fleshy human in between her and the demigods. He just wanted this problem to end so he could get to fixing the real problems, the things that took wars to fix.

When he took himself from his thoughts, he didn’t have a chance to join Thalia’s car when Percy get out of it, looking angry. The car door gets slammed behind him by someone inside the car, a clear added finality to the action.

Nico was startled by the sudden change in mood but he grew more concerned when Percy stomped towards him.

“Goodness, it’s been minutes,” Nico mutters, feeling like he’s aged 90 years. Percy sits at the edge of the open side he was just looking out of.

“What do you know about Luke?” Percy asks, glaring out into the wilderness as it passes by.

“All there is to know, I suppose.” Nico takes a seat next to Percy, hands intertwined on his lap, “All I need to know of an enemy, anyway.”

“Right.” Percy nods, as if he just confirmed something he doubted for a second, “Luke’s our enemy, Why don’t they get that?”

“They?” The son of Hades hums, prompting Percy to continue.

“Annabeth and Thalia,” The son of the sea sighs, frustrated, “They just- Annabeth always made excuses for him, always but Thalia? I thought she was just as angry as me! Then she goes to say that Luke never let her down, like, seriously? Isn’t that what this whole mission  is about? What the entire prophecy is about? Taking down Kronos and therefore Luke? Luke is Kronos’ puppet, he has to be taken down with him! We can’t afford to be clouded by- by feelings!”

Nico blinks in surprise but ultimately listens to Percy’s rant quietly. He had never met Luke, not before he was anything other than Krono’s lackey, his gateway to victory over his children, anyway. He doesn’t know of Luke’s motivations personally but he knew the man was Hermes’ favorite, as ironic as that was with Luke’s hatred for his father. King Minos used to speak about him all the time, trying to convince a younger and vulnerable him that Luke could be the thing that makes all his dreams come true.

Getting Bianca back. Power. A place to belong. Being a hero.

All he knew was that Luke trying to kidnap him and his sister, it kickstarted the quest that killed her. He always resented the man because of that, even if most of that went to Percy at the time.

“Feelings?” Nico hums.

“I-“ Percy stops, taking a breath, “They- the girls- they had.. history with him. Spent years together, and they got to Camp Half Blood together. Tried to, anyway. I get it, I mean, I was friends with him too. Or at least- I thought I was his friend. I thought he was mine.” He scoffs, almost self-deprecating, “Guess I was the only one thinking that, like always.”

“Like always?” Nico questions, genuinely confused by Percy’s slip of the tongue. In the past, The two were at the very least friends but he doesn’t remember having any conversation like this with Percy. Nico was too closed off and Percy too good at fumbling with his words.

“Luke. And everyone before him,” Percy sighs, putting his face in his hands, “I uh… never had any friends before Grover and Annabeth.”

“Really?” Nico says in disbelief and straightening up and Percy suddenly opens up before he realizes he sounded too eager and clears his throat, “I mean, really?”

“Yeah. Really,” Percy rolls his eyes but barrels through, not losing his burst of vulnerability, “I was always the weird kid at school. Too… well, too much of everything. I saw things that weren’t there, got into fights for reasons I couldn’t explain. I was too angry all the time. No one had an answer for why I was the way I was, and neither did I. And after a while… I started believing them. That I was just some lost cause. Even when I got sent to a school for ‘special kids,’ I didn’t fit in. For fuck’s sake, I was the odd one out there too!”

He stops suddenly, realizing he is ranting, his shoulders hunched. “I shouldn’t be dumping this on you…”

Nico was a little stunned. He never once thought about what Percy’s life was like before Camp Half-Blood. Hell, he doesn’t really know what Percy feels even while he’s at Camp Half-Blood. It was strange, hearing about him as this lonely kid no one wanted to be around. Percy was always… Percy. Larger than life, the clear-cut definition of a hero.

“Yeah,” The son of Hades sighs, “I get it. I was too…. Excitable before Westover Hall happened and after? At Camp Half-Blood? You saw how everyone was when I was claimed.”

“You get a chance to be with others like you… only to realize it was just like before, now even worse because it was supposed to be different,” Percy says, looking thoughtful.

“Yeah. So… I get it.” Nico repeats, looking up at Percy.

The other nods slowly, studying him for a moment, “I guess you do.”

They sit quietly, neither wanting to break the air of connection and thought they accumulated. They thought better of falling asleep sitting at the edge of a train going hundreds of miles per hour due to godly interference. So, they crashed in Grover’s car, the other two groups of girls carrying too much barrage for either of them.

Soon, Nico was being shaken awake by Grover, a groggy Percy at the Styr’s side.

“The train stopped, we got to go,” Percy yawns.

Chapter Text

Nico groggily comes out of the car, his hair sticking every which way. An impressive feat considering he didn’t move an inch from his spot at the backseat of Grover’s new and short-lived car.

He glared at Thalia who tried to stifle her laughter as soon as she saw him.

“You know- when Annabeth was little, she’d come out from under the covers like you. Crazy bedhead and looking like she woke up in another dimension- the sleep was that good,” Thalia chuckles, Annabeth blushing and pushing her in embarrassment, presumably for saying that in front of Percy. Watching them still in their crushing stage was so weird….

Nico huffs and smooths out his hair as best as he can, dodging Bianca’s attempts at doing it for him.

Looking out, they arrived at the outskirts of a skiing town in the mountains. Snow covered the cabin's roofs and the big sign that read “Welcome to Cloudcroft, New Mexico.” Despite the sunny morning, it was still freezing. No one but Bianca and Zoe were particularly dressed for the weather. Thalia and Grover got what they could from the camp and Annabeth wore Percy’s lion-skin coat. Still, Everyone was shivering by the time they got to Main Street.

“You’re crazy…” Nico murmurs, watching Percy rub his arms in attempts to get warmer. He was still dressed in a plain hoodie and jeans he had on during training though this time he didn’t have the exercise to stave off the cold.

“I didn’t exactly have time to change!” Percy scowls.

“We’ll lose a finger or two before we actually get to Artemis,” Grover shivers.

“Where are we going now, anyway? We’ve got nothing!” Thalia throws her hands up in frustration.

“San Francisco,” Nico says, shivering and rubbing his hands together.

“And how exactly do you know this?” Bianca sighs, getting tired of her little brother's miraculous answers.

“I got it from a dream.” Nico responds. What he had was less of a dream and more of a catch-up with a friend.

Before he was in the world of the awake, he was in a quiet cozy cabin. Outside the windows, there was this white void that somehow seemed unimportant, his eyes glossing over them immediately. Inside this wood cabin, he sat at a small table with Apollo sitting across from him, The god looking tired. Well, he looked as godly as ever but gone was the shining blonde hair and bright smile that used to be permanently stuck to his face all those years ago.

“New look?” Nico had asked, gesturing to Apollo’s hair. It was as curly and healthy as ever but went from ‘outgrown dye job’ from before to just brown like his sisters.

“Yeah,” The god chuckles, tugging on a piece of his hair, “Makes me feel less insane.”

“Little late for your teenage rebellion, isn’t it?” the demigod smirks.

“Ok, first off, lil’ emo-“

“Lil’ Emo? What am I, a rapper?”

“If I wanted to be the embodiment of a suburban parent’s worst nightmare, I’ll ask you for fashion advice.”

“The disrespect…” Nico shakes his head and grumbles like he was planning his revenge already.

“Anyway, let’s get serious,” Apollo chuckles the humor on his face dimming a little.

“Right.” The smaller boy straightens up in his seat, “First things first, where the hell am I going?”

“Now what am I? A GPS?” The sun god sighs, “San Francisco. That’s where my sister is.”

“No riddles? Aren’t I special…” Nico huffs a laugh, holding his jacket close to him. Despite the warm atmosphere of the cabin, he still felt cold.

“We both know we have no time for riddles. This quest.. it’ s only the beginning. Hell, Mr. K was only the beginning!” Apollo sighs, throwing a hand up in annoyance.

“Mr. K?” The demigod raises an eyebrow.

“Names have power… And I didn’t want to call him grandpa, felt weird.” The god says, glancing around like grandpa himself was going to jump out of the very little shadows in the warmly lit cabin.

“Well, I’m not complaining about skipping the riddles,” Nico sighs.

“Great. So we have a destination we’re not sure is the right one,” Thalia huffs, bringing Nico back from his memory.

“Oh? This might have slipped your mind but I am a demigod, meaning I get these things as much as you would,” Nico narrows his eyes at Thalia, feeling his defensiveness grow in him.

“I’ve been having dreams too,” Percy says, trying to break up the fight quickly.

“Oh so everyone is getting a dream now?” Thalia scowls, as if feeling left out.

“Hey, the rest of us barely get demigod dreams! Or quests,” Annabeth points out. If they wanted to talk about fairness, the Big Three kids who get most of everything should not be the ones bringing it up, Annabeth thought. She had to wait years for Percy to show up to camp to get on a quest finally instead of being able to go on her own.

“What did you dream about, Percy,” Nico sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose between his pointer and his thumb, having been awake for an hour at most and already getting a headache. The last thing he needed was in-fighting.

“Uhm..” Percy glances towards Zoe, as if trying to weigh whether angering her was worth it or not.

“Demigod dream or a boy dream,” Zoe spits, slowly drawing her bow.

“A demigod dream!” The son of Poseidon defends himself, “What do you even mean a boy dream?”

Zoe glares at Percy for a good minute before deciding he is telling the truth and putting her bow away.

“Let’s just get to San Francisco,” Nico says sternly as if getting unruly kids to behave.

“Yes.” Zoe straightens up, back to looking like the hundred-year-old immortal she was rather than a sister quarreling with her brother, “We need to get there before the Winter council begins.”

“How are we going to get there?” Thalia sighed, looking around at the middle of town where they stopped, “No bus station, taxis, not even a car rental.”

“There’s a coffee shop!” Grover brightens up, pointing to the cozy café that looked like the golden gates in this freezing weather.

“Coffee sounds amazing,” Nico sighs, already dreaming about the drink he had grown so fond of.

“When have you ever tried coffee?” Bianca asks, narrowing her eyes at Nico, “You’re too young for it.”

“You weren’t always with me,” Nico huffs, quickly coming up with a believable lie as he only tried coffee way into the future.

Bianca purses her lips, as if it only just now occurred to her that when Nico would run off he didn’t do it to cause her grief but because he also wanted to grow into himself.

“Besides, there’s food too” Annabeth buts in, trying to calm the tension that racked up again.

“Pastries…” Grover sighs dreamily, “Wax paper…”

“Fine,” Thalia sighs, “How about you three get us food while Percy, Bianca, and I will go into the grocery store. Maybe they’ll give us directions.”

“Great idea,” Nico’s lips quirk up, so casual and smooth in a distinctively older way. He wondered if his young face ruined the effect.

Zoe, Grover, and Nico walk into the café. Zoe had stepped up to talk to the cashier, used to taking charge of a gaggle of youngsters.

“Damn these prices…” Zoe huffs, narrowing her eyes at the menu hanging over them.

“Tell me about it…” Nico grumbles. The first time he bought McDonald’s he was shocked at the prices, only to be more shocked that it was actually one of the cheapest things around.  The cashier doesn’t say anything but does grow visibly confused when the three start to sip on their fresh coffees, all with an extra expresso shot or two. Funnily enough, all three of them were way older than they appeared. Maybe since Grover and Zoe didn’t really know what normal kids acted like, they didn’t question Nico’s choice of drink.

‘My kind of people.’ Nico thinks as he takes a bite of his chocolate chip muffin that was twice the size of his hand.

They walked out of the coffee shop feeling a little more alive with some food and drinks in hand.

From a distance, he saw Percy and Bianca talking. It don’t look like a good talk, given the way Bianca gets a bitter look on her face for a second.

Whatever the conversation was, it paused when the trio walked over with treats in hand.

“Where’s Thalia and Annabeth?” Nico questions, seeing as they weren’t around.

“They went to go around the shops to ask if there’s a way to get to San Francisco,” Percy answers, thoroughly enjoying his blueberry muffin.

“The clerk in the grocery store said we could take a taxi from down the mountain, but that’d take hours. Also hundreds of dollars we don’t have,” Bianca says, sending Percy glares periodically. The three smartly don’t ask what that was about.

“Let’s see if the tracking spell could give us any new information,” Zoe suggests, “Grover, do you have any more acorns left?”

“Uhm,” Grover chews on his muffin, wrapper and all, shuffling to try and figure out where to put down his coffee so he could search his pockets. Then, he freezes. Before anyone could ask what was up with him there was a shift in the air. A scent of fresh flowers and sunshine, the type of feeling you’d get when standing in a field. With it came something else- almost a voice. A warning.

“Grover?” Nico takes a step back as Grover’s cup fell from his hand into the snow. The birds that decorated Grover’s cup peeled off the cup and literally flew away. The rubber rat that sat between Percy and Bianca squeaked and scurried away.

Then the satyr collapsed into the snow, shocking everyone to gather around him.

“Satyr,” Zoe scowls, lightly slapping Grover’s face, trying to get him to remain awake. Grover groans, eyes fluttering.

“Hey!” Sounds a voice behind them. Thalia and Annabeth come running, cheeks rosy and panting from the cold thin air.

“We just- What happened to Grover?” Annabeth gaps, making her way to the half goats side.

“He just collapsed!” Percy responds. He was a fighter, better with a sword than checking people’s injuries so he was way out of his element here.

“Well, get him up! We got to go!” Thalia scowls, spear in hand and looking behind her as if being followed. Percy and Annabeth didn’t need to be told twice, helping their best friend up on either side of him.

The group made it to the edge of town before the first two skeleton warriors appeared. They wore blue New Mexico State Police uniforms, effectually shielding their transparent grey skin and yellow eyes from mortal eyes.

When they raised their guns, Nico scowled something fierce which made the skeletons pause. Seriously, guns? Usually, his skeletons used swords. Maybe it’s time to arm them with more modern machinery…

Thalia tapped her bracelet, Aegis spiraling to life on her arm. The sight of the terrifying Medusa on Thalia’s shield actually shocks the skeletons back into action. Percy drew his sword and Annabeth her dagger but they struggled with Grover leaning against them. Seeing Zoe and Bianca draw their bows, Nico scowls for a different reason. He hopes to be back in the Underworld soon so he could get his damn sword back instead of only having the pastries as his shield.

There was a rustle of the snow behind them which Nico snapped his head towards. Two more skeletons come up the road behind them. One brings a phone to his mouth. To anyone else, it would sound like bones clacking together but Nico could understand him just fine.

“They’re calling for backup,” Nico tells the others, keeping his eyes on the newer threat behind them.

“It’s near,” Grover moaned, looking delirious.

“What’s near?” The son of Hades glared at him before he felt a shift in the air. Both he and Zoe look around, trying to spot what caused such change.

“The Wild…” Zoe says, voice half in awe and shock, “I haven’t felt him in…”

Grover gasps, “A gift!”

“We don’t have time for this!” Thalia scowls, “There’s only four of them and five of us in fighting shape, They might ignore Grover and Nico.”

“The Wild!” The satyr moaned as their friends set him down and charge at the skeletons.

“Stop!” Nico called out to Percy as he slashed at the monster, “You won’t do any damage!”

Percy reminded him just how deadly he was by slicing off the skeleton’s arm off without even flinching, this determined look on his face. In one clean more, the of the sea cuts the thing in half by his waist.

Nico’s words ring true as the monster’s bones immediately begin to reassemble themselves.

“Bianca, use your dagger!” he yells to his sister as he helps Grover to sit up, wanting to make himself useful. Bianca stubbornly ignored Nico, shooting arrows right in between the monsters eyes. As he predicted, they go right through them.

“Listen to him!” Zoe orders and Nico tries not to be hurt when she follows her orders with only a second of reluctance. The skeleton erupted into flames at her hand, making Bianca blink in shock. There was no time for her to ask questions in the heat of the battle as a scream interrupted her thoughts.

“Percy!” Annabeth screamed. She was behind Thalia, the two back to back. When a skeleton would shoot at them, The two would turn and Thalia would shield them. The daughter of Athena ran out of Thalia’s cover and he knew why when he saw Percy drop. Two holes bleed from Percy’s back as he gasped into the snow.

“Annabeth!” This time Thalia screams as the blonde was now in the cross fire. The skeletons aimed for her instead but Annabeth only grunted as the bullets bounced off her. Seeing the jacket protect her from the bullets, Annabeth looks so guilty and devastated. Percy was supposed to be wearing that jacket and if he was, he wouldn’t be bleeding into the snow right now.

Thalia charged at the skeleton that was aiming for Annabeth, sticking her spear right through the thing. With a grunt, she spins and flings the monster into a building. Nico didn’t know what the mortals saw but many started yelling and calling the cops. Zoe did her best to cover Bianca’s weak spots as the other slashed at the monsters as best as she could given her inexperience with a dagger.

Nico stayed back, holding Grover back from running into the woods where a crashing sound rang, like a bulldozer.

“The Gift!” Grover gasps. Whatever it was, it made the skeletons shiver, the branches cracking closer and closer as if it was blowing down the trees. Then a mighty roar came with the largest pig Nico had ever scene crashing into the road.

The giant thing squealed, throwing the skeletons to the side with its tusks which were the size of canoes. Like Thalia’s skeletons, they went flying into the trees, smashing into pieces.

Then the pig turned to us. Thalia raised her spear, already generating electricity.

“No! Don’t kill him!” Grover yells as the giant thing grunts and pawed at the ground, ready to charge.

“It’s a Erymanthian Boar,” Zoe says, eyes trained on the pig and trying to stay calm, “I don’t believe we can kill it.”

“It’s gift- A blessing from the wild!” The delirious satyr insists.

“Scatter!” Percy yells, Annabeth helping him up and then booking it with him in a random direction. Thalia and Bianca run off while Zoe helps Nico with Grover. Seeing as Percy was the most injured, the pig zeroed it’s beady angry eyes onto them. The two limped as fast as they could into a tunnel and Nico prayed to Apollo that they would find the strength to live this.

The town wasn’t the biggest thing in the world and most mortals have already run off somewhere so they run into Thalia and Bianca pretty quickly.

They made their way to where the tunnel ended, his stomach turning as he saw that it was a dead end and ended off a bridge. He couldn’t see Annabeth and Percy on it so they were either still in the tunnel or were faster than he thought.

“They’re not dead.” Nico sighs and Zoe takes his word for it, despite still being worried.

“Helloooo?” Grover called out, his voice echoing.

“Down here!’’ Sounded Annabeth’s voice, making the other sigh in relief. Grover wasn’t swaying so much now so they were all able to slide down to the two. The two looked terrible, with cuts all over them and Percy growing pale. A few ways off, the boar was face first in the snow, kicking and squealing as it tried to get out.

“A blessing of the Wild,” Grover said though now he looked irritated.

“I agree,” Zoe sighs, “We must use it.”

“How,” Thalia starts with a scowl on her face, “in the world is that thing a blessing?”

“It’s our ride west,” Grover looked over the pig, distracted, “Boars like him travel crazy fast.”

“Then we need to use it quickly, Percy isn’t looking too hot.” Nico says making Percy huff irritably. The state of Percy seemed to snap Grover out of it somewhat because he went over to help as best as he could.

Zoe cracked her knuckles and then jumped onto the boars back. The thing squealed and tried bucking her off but hundreds of years must have taught her a lot because Zoe held on like she’s done professional bull riding. Grover took his reeds up to his mouth with his free hand, summoning up an apple. The fruit floated in front of the boar which went nuts trying to get it.

The rest of us climbed up it’s side to get on top. Nico wanted to shadow travel Percy there but there weren’t any shadows on top of it and he knew it would only make Percy feel worse. So, they tried to be gentle with him but all up lifted him up by his shirt to get him on.

“he needs ambrosia,” Annabeth scowls, pushing Percy to lay on his stomach as to not agitate his back. Percy grumbles but did as he was told, cheek against the boar’s terrible brown fur.

“We need to get the bullets out first,” Nico winces, already imagining the pain.

“I mean… I could..” Bianca offers when she sees how Annabeth hands shake. But seeing how Percy winces at the thought, Nico interrupts.

“If anyone has to do it, it should be a very close friend,” Nico says, looking towards Annabeth. Rather have a friend drill into your back than some girl you’ve known for less than a week.

Annabeth takes a deep breath, dagger in hand. Grover takes Percy’s hand, being there for his best friend as he’s prepared to be dissected. She gently lifts the back of Percy’s shirt up and the rest of the group gives them the decency of privacy by looking away.

“I can do this,” Annabeth mutters to herself as she points her dagger at Percy’s wounds. He had two small but deep bullet wounds that welled up with blood.

“You don’t sound so sure…” Percy says, tensing in preparation for the pain.

“I dissected a frog once…” Annabeth offers weakly.

“Comforting…” Percy deadpans.

“You’re not making this any better,” Thalia sighs.

“Hey, I’m the one about to be dissected!” Percy sends Thalia glare, which she returns, injuries be damned.

“The sooner you get to stabbing the sooner he can heal,” Nico says, looking away from the sight. He knew this was a vulnerable moment, as Percy and Annabeth never experienced any gore like this. Sad to say that they’ll see even worse in the future.

Annabeth nods, a determined look that does little to hide the fear in her eyes. She presses the tip of her dagger into the first bullet wound. The problem with that was that the dagger was much bigger than the wound which meant she spent time making it worse.

Percy hisses through his teeth, face red from holding back groans of pain, his fingers digging into the boar’s skin.

Nico and Zoe were the calmest of the others. Bianca and Thalia had turned pale but while Thalia covered her worried expression with one of determination, Bianca did not. The daughter of Hades was looking to her lap, fists clenched. Her first mission. Nico and Zoe had seen and inflicted much worse. Nico used to take walks in the Fields of Punishment, for fucks sake. Still, Percy’s groans made his stomach twist in an uncomfortable way.

It feels like hours before the first bullet is dug out. When Annabeth pulls out her dagger, Percy sighs in relief.

“One down,” She says, voice thin.

“Yay,” Percy shudders, half-conscious from the blood loss and lack of adrenaline coursing through him. With Annabeth holding the knife, he didn’t need to be so scared.

The second bullet was harder. It was lodged deeper and Annabeth really had to dig around to find it. She couldn’t just use her fingers, they were too dirty with blood and dirt.

Annabeth grits her teeth and blinks away tears as she works. Grover had to but a hand on Percy upper back to keep him from moving too much.

Percy makes a strangled sound once the other bullet was out and everyone let out a sigh of relief.

“Ok, that’s it,” Annabeth says. Bianca quickly hands her a canteen of ambrosia from her backpack, which she pours directly onto Percy’s wound. Through this, his wounds close up instantly and Percy fully relaxes.

“Remind me why we’re doing this again…” Percy sighs, taking a moment to just lay on the boar.

“To stop a war.” Nico supplies, turning around to face Percy. He got over seeing his friend in so much pain and was back to normal.

“So the usual…” The son of the sea sighs with the weight of a man who’s lived much longer.

It was quiet for a moment, everyone getting over seeing that war medical tent scene at their own pace. Their color returns to their faces as the wind whips past them.

“The blessing…” Grover sighs, “I can’t feel it anymore.”

“What? What blessing?” Percy grunts.

“Did you not feel it?” Nico blinks.

“It was so strong, have not felt anything like that presence in a long long time.” Zoe sighs

“What presence?” Percy asks, sitting up again as he was feeling much better.

“Didn’t you feel it?” Zoe gives the demigod a look of judgement, “The Lord of the Wild. For just a moment, I felt him.”

They rode the boar until the sun set, a blessing considering riding the boar felt like riding a giant steel brush over a bed of gravel all day. They arrived in miles of flat, dry land. Greenery faded until they were riding into a desert.

The dry land makes Nico tense.

The boar stopped at a creek, snorting and then drinking the muddy water.

“This is as far as he’ll go…” Grover yawns, “We need to get off while he’s eating.”

Nobody argued and quickly got off the giant thing, slipping off it while it chewed on cactuses. Once the thing had it’s fill, it squealed and ran off East.

“It likes the mountains better,” Percy hums, looking back to his normal self.

“Can’t blame him…” Thalia points to the rundown town they stopped near. The two lane road was half covered in sand, a testament to how long it’s been since someone drove through here. There were a cluster of buildings, too little in amount to be called a town. A white post office had a sign that read ‘Gila Claw, Arizona.’ Beyond that were piles and piles of old cars, appliances, and other scrap metal.

The junkyard where his sister died. Nico couldn’t help but check for where Bianca was. She stood near Zoe, taking in the place like the others, alive and well.

“Something tells me we’re not going to find a car rental here,” Thalia sighs, the group once again stranded and left to just figure something out. Grover sniffed the wind, hoping for a whiff of Pan’s presence but there was none. Disappointed, he throws his handful of acorns onto the sand and played his pipes. The nuts rearranged themselves into a pattern that made Grover look concerned.

“That’s us,” He says as if that made sense.

“Which one is me?” Percy asked, examining the acorns as if he’d understand them if he stared long enough.

“The little deformed one,” Zoe says, making Nico swallow a laugh despite his anxiety.

“Oh, shut up,” Percy grumbled.

“That cluster right there,” Grover continues, eyebrows furrowed as he examined the pattern, “That’s trouble.”

“A monster?” Thalia asks, looking around.

“I don’t smell anything…” Grover said, looking uneasy, “It doesn’t make sense….”

The satyr pointed towards the junkyard, “There.”

“Let’s camp first,” Annabeth suggests, “It's been a long day.”

They found an empty building and decided to camp out there. Zoe and Bianca pulled sleeping bags and mattresses out of their bags, most likely enchanted. How they knew the exact number to bring, Nico didn’t know. Or maybe the bag just gave them how many they needed.

The temperature dropped fast and once again, the group was shivering. Grover and Percy collected random boards from the neighboring houses and Thalia shocked a fire alive with her spear.

“The stars are out tonight..” Zoe hums, looking out the window.

“They really are beautiful,” Nico comments.

“I’ve never actually seen the Milky Way,”  Bianca says, looking out at the stars with a hint of awe.

“This is nothing,” Zoe huffs with the air of a grandma telling their granddaughter gran stories about how their time was a million times better than now, “Before, there were many more. Whole constellations stopped showing- humans and their light pollution.”

“You talk like you’re not human,” Percy points out.

“I am a Hunter,” Zoe’s lips thin, “I care about nature. Can the same be said for thee?”

“It’s you, not thee,” Thalia sighs.

“But you say you at the beginning of a sentence?”

“And at the end, It’s just you, no thou or thee.”

“Damn this language!” Zoe threw her hands up in exasperation.

“Come on, Thalia, Zoe can speak however she wishes,” Nico interrupts.

“It’s not exactly normal,” Thalia huffs.

“I’m sure you think little of the way I speak, then?” Nico says, smile turning sharp as he dares Thalia to make fun of his accent with his eyes.

“That’s different,” Thalia’s cheeks redden.

“Just let it go,” Nico sighs, the words ironic considering how many grudges he kept in his past life.

Grover sighs, looking out into the starry night with a longing look. “If only Pan was here, he’d make things right…”

“Grover, do you really think it was Pan? I mean, I know you want it to be,” Percy rubs the back of his neck, as if trying to gently break the bad news.

“He sent us help,” The satyr insisted, “This is the best lead we’ve gotten in thousands of years- I can’t let it go now.”

“What I want to know, is how you could take down those skeletons,” Thalia asked, looking at Bianca.

“I..” She looked down at her dagger, “I don’t know.”

“It’s a child of Hades thing,” Nico answers. Bianca died not knowing a thing about being a child of Hades. Nico wasn’t claimed until after the first war, he knew how it felt to have all that power and no answer as to why he had them. “Skeletons are under his command.”

“It’s not like Hades sent those things,” Annabeth speaks up.

“No, he didn’t, but his control over the dead is far greater than whatever wannabe- necromancer popped up to summon them. Gods can do lots of things but when it comes to domains, their power is placed in hierarchy. Zeus’ subjects become my fathers when they die, meaning he gets the final say on them once their strings are cut.” Nico explains.

“Where did you learn all this stuff from?” Bianca’s eyebrows furrowed as she took in the sight of her little brother, who spoke as if he’s lived lifetimes with this information. Nico shrugs and gives no answer, like always.

“So.. the skeletons can die by your hands, that’s useful,” Thalia hums.

“That power must not work all the time because I shot at them and they didn’t go down.” The daughter of Hades sighed.

“You used a weapon of Artemis,” Nico said and apparently Zoe understood immediately what he meant.

“A Hunter's power comes from Artemis. Our bows and precision come from her blessing,” She explained to Bianca, who hung onto every word. Nico thought it was a little odd to see his older sister, who he always viewed as larger than life, acting like the little kids at camp. He had forgotten that she was a little kid.

“An arrow with her blessing wouldn’t do damage against Underworld creatures, it is not within her rights,” Nico continues, “Now, a dagger wielded by the King’s daughter on the other hand…”

“The King’s daughter…” Bianca sighs, not knowing what to make of such a title, “That… it seems powerful, too powerful, like- I don’t know- I shouldn’t be able to do it.”

“And yet,” Nico’s lip quirks up in amusement.

“It takes some getting used to…” Percy says, Thalia nodding to his words, “But it’s the life of a Big Three kid, I guess.”

“I still can’t believe all three of them broke the oath,” Annabeth sighed.

Before Nico could decide whether to defend his father or not, a blazing light assaulted his eyes through the windows.

“Ah- Fucking hell!” Nico hisses, holding up a hand to block the rays.

“Nico!” Bianca chided him for his language though he was too busy blinking the sight back into his eyes.

The group huddled up around the window to see just what interrupted their very much needed break. Nonstop work and they didn’t even get 15 minutes, they made unions for this!

A deathly white limousine was driving across the sand and stopped right at the door of their chosen house. Everyone groaned in exhaustion, knowing some more bullshit was about to come their way. They gathered up the sleeping bags, putting them back into Zoe and Bianca’s backpack before heading out into the cold.

The backdoor of the limo opened up and everyone who had a weapon drew them.

“At ease people,” A deep gruff voice sounded out and all their weapons dropped. From the limo came a big man with a crew cut, black leather bikers jacket, black jeans, a white muscle shirt, and combat boots. His scarred face and sneer would have made any mortal shiver. He exuded raw physical power.

“Ares.” Percy practically growls.

Nico grits his teeth though his cheeks heat up, remembering how this was his very first crush standing in front of him. That mythomagic  card didn’t do the god justice.

He readily ignores the very judgmental look Zoe was giving him.

“This,” Ares smiled cruelly, “Is a friendly meeting. Of course, I’d like to take your head for a trophy, Jackson, but I would never behead my enemies in front of a lady.”

“What lady?” Thalia scowled.

“Well, I heard you were back,” The God of War looked his half-sister over as if judging if she was half the hero they say she was. His eyes looked over the group, full on laughing when he saw Nico and Bianca.

“Man, my Father was pissed to hear about you two,” He chuckles, “The walls shook for weeks.”

“Not one but two! Especially you,” He looked straight at Nico, a blazing fire behind his Wraparound sunglasses, “Apollo’s going to be in trouble for a  good while. You have too many titles, kid. Still, hanging around with lower company.” Ares gave Percy a dirty look.

“Who’s in the car?” Percy scowled, meeting the gods gaze head on.

“Oh, I doubt she wants to meet with most of you. Especially not them,” Ares jutted his chin toward Zoe and Bianca, “Why don’t you lot get some tacos? It’ll only take Percy and Little Nico a few minutes.”

“Wha- Wait- Me?” Nico gaped and pointed to himself. He didn’t know who was in there but he wasn’t used to gods bothering him.

“Oh, what so it’s cool if I go?” Percy deadpans.

“I don’t know- you’re the one usually getting into trouble, not me!” Nico stressed.

“They will not be left alone with thee, Lord Ares,” Zoe straightened, her experiences with gods ten times the normal amount.

“Besides, The taco place is closed,” Grover managed through his fear.

Ares waved a hand dismissively and the lights of the taqueria suddenly lit up. The boards that held the door closed flew off and the CLOSED sign turned to OPEN.

“Go on,” Percy said, clearly trying to sound more confident than he felt, “We’ll look out for each other.”

“You heard him, big strong boy got everything under control,” The God of War smirked.

“Save me a taco!” Nico yelled after them when they reluctantly made their way to the taco place.

“Jackson and the little one, get in,” Ares grunted, glaring daggers at Percy as he opened the door of the limo like a chauffer. Nico missed Jules-Albert.

The two demigods crawled into the limbo and both paused. Percy was gapping like an idiot, cheeks red. He didn’t know what Percy saw but he knew beauty when he saw it. She was a woman, mid 20s, perfect makeup and a dazzling smile that lit up a room. He couldn’t really tell whether her hair was blonde or black, it kept switching every other blink. One moment, she was a woman with olive skin and the darkest hair in the world that was just like his. The next, she had features he liked romantically on a man, just on a woman. Then it she morphed into a man fully, with muscles that made Nico’s cheeks redden. Her form probably preferred the male one with romantic attachments considering it stuck to that one more often than not.

“Aw,” The woman cooed when she noticed her dark- haired female form, “Isn’t that cute?”

She leaned forward and pinched Nico’s cheek before settling back into her seat, her male form now locked on.

Nico had felt a presence like this, for what felt like eons ago.

“Aphrodite?” Nico guessed tentatively, not really wanting to be wrong and have the actual Goddess of Love angry at him.

“Yes!” the goddess- God? Goddess.- nodded with a joyful laugh. Her/His smile made dimples on their cheeks and Nico hated how cute they were. This was not the time.

“Um uh gah,” Percy said, slipping into the seat next to him and across from Aphrodite.

“Aren’t you sweet?” They smiled, Nico stifling a laugh at the look on Percy’s face, “Hold this, please.”

The Goddess thrusted a mirror into Percy’s hands and examined themselves in it, taking in the vastly different forms the two boys made her take.

“Do you know why you’re here?” They asked leaning back against the cushions when she had her fun. Percy looked like he couldn’t form a complete sentence, staring into Aphrodite’s eyes. Nico slapped him in the back, as if to get him to stop choking on his words and get on with it.

“I- I don’t know,” Percy managed.

“Oh dear, still in denial?” They sighed, pushing back his fringe, making it fall in an effortless way.

Outside the car, a deep laugh came and whatever reaction Nico had made Aphrodite giggle.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Percy answers, looking like was finally coming to his senses.’

“Tell me, how did you get on this quest?” They hummed.

“Well- Nico took me here, accidently, after I grabbed onto him,” Percy explained though it sounded lame even to his ears.

“Oh, but why did you hold on so tightly?” Aphrodite prompts, leaning in to watch the pieces fall into place.

“I..” Percy was at a lose for words, looking as if he truly didn’t know. Nico thought back that time in the training yard, when he had the vision and Percy was forced along for the ride.

“Because-“ Nico started but Aphrodite put a hand up.

“No, no, he has to figure it out for himself. It’s no fun if someone just tells him,” They say.

“Love is a battlefield,” Nico joked lightly, making the hot guy across him to blink in surprise.

“Why- yes it is,” The Goddess laughed, “Many forget that all the time. They want it to be easy but that is so rare, as sweet as it is.”

“How does that even work?” Percy huffs, “I mean-  I always wondered, forgive me for asking-“

“How can Love and War be lovers?” Aphrodite sighed and rolled her eyes as if she heard such a thing a million times before. Must not be the best thing to hear considering she liked Ares the most even after hundreds of years of existing.

“They are not so different,” Nico tells Percy, making the goddess raise an eyebrow. A silent continue.

“Well..” the Son of Hades starts, growing a little embarrassed by the attention, “It’s just- Love is, many times, a war in itself. People fight for love. They die for it. They kill for it. They are so intense, push people to do things they usually wouldn’t. People like to oversimplify and underestimate love. They both make the most desperate of men, makes men dangerous. I know that ignoring the heart is like going into a battlefield unarmed. You probably won’t come out put together… It’s ruthless.”

“Ha!” Comes Ares voice outside and a thump as if he slapped the limbo. He sounded happy though and Aphrodite smiled. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”

“It’s what he loves about me,” They giggle, looking over to where Ares was no doubt standing.

Aphrodite studied Nico with a knowing smile.

“Most people never get to understand that- my demigod children only do when they’re older and out into the world.” The Goddess in her male form hums, “Most of everyone outside my children never get to that point. They forget that cities burned for loves, war started because of it.”

Percy shifted uncomfortably beside Nico, having been booted out of the conversation pretty quickly.

“Without a fight, the love is just easy..” Nico glances to Percy, knowing now how much trouble he went through to actually be with Annabeth, before turning to Aphrodite with a mischievous look, “And you don’t care for easy.”

A slow smile spread across the goddess’ handsome face, full of approval and amusement.

“Oh, I like you.”

“This is..” Percy mutters, not really knowing what to say.

“you’re adorable,” Aphrodite giggled, looking to the son of the sea now, “You’ll understand one day, I’ll make sure of it.”

She sighed and fanned her face, as if the excitement of the conversation was getting to her.

“I’m so glad I thought to bring you in too, How I love good conversation,” She says, referring to Nico, “Percy needs more work but he’ll be perfect in some years or so. Nico Di Angelo, was it? It seems you’ve seen so much! Time to have a break, hm?”

Nico had no idea what she meant but her calculating gaze made him remember just who he was talking to. Suddenly talking at all seemed like a very bad idea. How could he draw her attention all over again? He had enough of that the first time!

“Poor boy,” She sighs, patting Percy’s cheek, “Your love, off to join the Hunters! You’ll never see her again! Forget about the monsters and Artemis- you concentrate on keeping her by your side!” She talked excitedly as if recounting a grand love story.

“What- Who-?” Percy gaped.

“The whole reason you’re here, of course!” Aphrodite sighed dreamily, “Oh so much to plan- anguish, indecision,”

“Oh, you don’t have to go through the trouble…” He winced. What the goddess talked about was not something he wanted in store for his future. Hasn’t he been through enough?!

“Now, now, it’s no problem! Though you two better get going now, lest my nephew starts shooting lightening,” The handsome man smiled, “And do be careful in my husband’s territory, boys. Don’t take anything. He is awfully fussy about his things.”

“What? Hephaestus?” Percy asked while Nico paled at the reminder of where they were. The car door opened and Ares grabbed the two of them, throwing them out of the car and onto the sand.

“You’re lucky, punk,” Ares scowled down at Percy who already scrambled to his feet, Nico following him, “Be grateful.”

“For what?” Percy glared back at the man with a storm behind his eyes.

“That my girlfriend likes you so much. If it were up to me, you’d be dead.”

“Then why haven’t you?” The son of the sea grits his teeth and Nico prays to whoever was listening that Percy didn’t die here from his stupidity.

“I’d love to kill you, seriously,” Ares said, in the same way you’d let someone down about not being able to make a hangout, “But see, I got a situation. Word around is that you’re going to start the biggest war in history. What’s a few minutes with you when I got that to look forward to? But don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten my promise..”

The god put his hand on the top of the limo as if he was about to go inside it.

“One day- real soon- you’re going to raise up your sword and find it fail you. You’ll remember me then.”

“Why wait? You’re ankle heal up crooked?” Percy scowled.

Ares barks a laugh and snaps his fingers. Percy then does a whole 360 while Nico has to raise his arms up to block his face from the sand. Then, the limo, the road, the taco restaurant- everything, it all disappeared.

Chapter Text

Helping Percy up from the ground after he fell, Nico tries not to be blatantly amused to save the other’s dignity. Given Percy’s scowl, he’s sure he failed miserably. The son of Poseidon was in a sour mood during the whole walk to where their friends were. He didn’t know what his problem was but Nico decided not to ask.

“You guys all in one piece?” Thalia asks, using her spear to drag herself up from the spot she was sitting in. Everyone looked exhausted, no real rest for days.

“Perfectly well,” Nico answers, “Just an audience with the goddess of Love.”

“Goddess of- Aphrodite was in there?!” Grover gasps, probably a little bitter he didn’t to see the literal embodiment of beauty.

“What did she want with you?” Bianca asked, looking between Nico and Percy.

Percy glanced at Annabeth before quickly looking away. Nico raised a hand to cover the huff of laughter he let out at the sight. Could he be any more obvious?

“Oh uh, not sure,” Percy says quick enough that it was clearly a lie, “She just warned us to be careful of her husband’s junkyard. She told us not to pick anything up.”

“Why’d she need two of you for that?” Annabeth questions, ever the curious sort.

“Well… she never actually explained that..” Percy rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.

“She was probably just curious,” Nico hums casually, taking a seat next to Grover.

“It is not every day someone like thou comes about,” Zoe eyes his earrings as if she senses what made them special. She probably did given all her years of experience in the mythological world, “Still, The goddess of Love would not make a special trip just to tell thee that or to have a look. Be careful, she had led many heroes astray.”

“For once, I agree.” Thalia huffs, probably miffed she was agreeing with Zoe on anything.

“Games of the heart are never sweet,” Nico hums, almost wistfully. He remembered his journey of love and self-love.. He hopes the Goddess of Love will have mercy on him this time around.

“How old is he really?” Percy whispers to Bianca who readily ignores him.

“Let’s just get moving.” The son of Hades hums, dusting some sand off the ends of his jeans.

“That way is west, we go there,” Zoe hums, pointing west.

“How can you tell?” Percy asks, his apprehensiveness from the meeting with Aphrodite fading at the change of topic.

Given Nico’s affinity for shadows and the light of the full moon, he could see Zoe roll her eyes at the son of the Sea.

“Ursa Major is in the north,” She sighs, looking like she was much too old to be dealing with these youngsters, “Which means that way must be west.”

“Oh, yeah, the bear thing,” Percy hums.

“Show some respect,” Zoe scowls, looking offended, “It was a fine bear. A worthy opponent.”

“You act like it was real.”

“You have a god for a dad and are talking to an immortal but you have a hard time believing a bear was real?” Nico rubs his temple, half amused and half exasperated.

“Guys-“ Grover’s voice broke in, pointing ahead, “Look!”

Where Grover had pointed, was a junkyard. Mountains of metal glinted in the moonlight. It was all kinds of things, from chariots to computer monitors. Clearly it was no ordinary junkyard given the swords and shields lying around. Looking close enough, there were broken off pieces of human statues and broken heads of bronze horses.

“The junkyard of the gods,” Nico says softly, pinching the sleeves of his jacket as his anxiety worsens. He was face to face with the place that killed his sister.

“You call this stuff junk?” Grover laughs, picking up a beautiful crown of gold and jewels, though it looked to have been split by an axe on one side.

Nico slaps the crown out of the satyr’s hand. Grover started to protest but stops when he sees the look on Nico’s face. The son of Hades turns to look at the rest of the group, his eyes piercing and knowing.

“No one will touch anything. Do so and you spell your death.” He raises his head as if looking down on the group. Percy had seen many things in his short time as a demigod, but right now? Nico looked the carbon copy of his father, back when his sheer aura made Percy want to kneel before him. There was no godly aura now but Nico’s serious expression did make him pause with unease.

“This is the land without rain.” Nico continues, putting the prophecy back into their minds. The warning was clear: Someone is going to die here. Safe to say, everyone huddled up together, keeping close as if something would jump out at them.

“Well, if I didn’t like this place before, I definitely don’t like it now,” Thalia murmurs, gripping her spear tightly.

The group walked through hills and valleys of the Gods trash, the junkyard spanning miles. If not for Zoe’s navigation skills, they would have been lost long ago. Nico could see them grow more conflicted as they passed by cooler and cooler stuff. An electric guitar shaped like Apollo’s lyre, a Hunter’s bow, all things that they looked longingly at as they passed.

Every time Nico suspected someone of getting tempted, he would drag them to their side like a misbehaving child. Needing to be reminded to behave by an 11 year old half their size was embarrassing enough for most of them to keep their hands to themselves, especially with Zoe backing his words.

He was glad to have Zoe there, leading the group. He wanted to hang back of the group to really keep an eye on them, but Bianca would pull him up and tell him to stick close no matter how he tried to protest.

“We seriously can’t touch anything? The stuff here is crazy,” Percy says. Annabeth was next to him, looking at the stuff as if she longed to figure out how they worked. He could see her mind racing to understand just what made this stuff godly.

“And leave your mother without a son?” Nico narrows his eyes at Percy, who gapes at the harshness of his words.

“Take this seriously, boy,” Zoe scowls at the son of the Sea, making Nico feel a little bad that they were ganging up on him, “You will not take us all down in your greed.”

Percy’s face reddens at the scoldings and scowls, never one to accept orders from anyone. Nico wanted to calm them but he was too annoyed to try and coax them into the right decision. His sister’s life was on the line and he hated needing to babysit the others as well. He understands they were young but seriously, does he have to tattoo the instructions onto their foreheads for them to listen?

They made it to the edge of the junkyard, about half a mile left to the place and Nico was as nervous as ever. He spent the walk switching his attention between quest members when one seemed to find something too interesting. It was a full-time job, considering he was nursing a delicate balance between coaxing and demanding them to follow instructions. He didn’t want to antagonize them but they made him want to pull his hair out.

“Woah, what is that?” Bianca gasps, eyes trained ahead. Between us and the road was solid gold hill, much bigger then the other hills of junk. It was about the size of a football field and as tall as goal posts. The sizes were intimidating coupled with the fact it wasn’t one, but about ten of them welted together.

“They look like-“ Bianca started, frowning in confusion.

“Toes,” Grover finished, looking particularly displeased at the sight of them.

“Lets go around…” Thalia sighs, her and Zoe tensing as if the sight of the giant toes was a bad omen.

“It’ll be quicker to just climb over,” Percy interrupts, pointing to the road that was just beyond the giant toes.

“I would assume climbing over them would count as touching,” Nico hums, hands folded in front of him.

“Well, I guess we’ll around since you know everything,” Percy scowls, apparently having reached his limit in taking orders. Nico rubs his temple, feeling a headache coming on. Does he need to be a pretty blonde girl for the stubborn man to listen?

They walked around the toes, taking several minutes to reach the highway. Both Nico and Zoe were tense, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Both were waiting for death, either for themselves or for others. Behind them came a blasting sounds, one of thousand of trash compactors crushing metal.

The Lieutenant drew her bow quicker than the others drawing their weapons, all whipping their heads to see  the toes tilting over. From under rubble and sand, rose an impossibly tall bronze giant wearing full Greek battle armor. It looked down at the group, it’s face half melted, its jointed rusted and across his chest was the words ‘WASH ME’. The group locked eyes with the thing, all scared for their lives as they remembered the prophecy. None were as terrified as Nico.

“What..” Nico whispered, horror building in him. He stared at the giant with wide, fearful eyes.

“But- Who-“ His eyes whipped around to each member of the group. His eyes locked with Bianca’s and his heart dropped at the guilty look in her eyes, “What… what did you do?!”

“I didn’t-“ Bianca stuttered with all the confidence of a child caught in a lie. They didn’t have time to argue as the giant moved to draw his weapon, the blade a hundred feet long. It must be some sort of security for those who dare to trespass. It took a step forward, closing the distance by half with one step. Nico grabbed his sister and shadow traveled behind a fridge in his panic. The sudden use of his powers, after only so recently pushing his body to the limit, makes Nico’s head pound like he was hit with a bus.

 The rest of the group was quick to split up, all drawing their weapons to fight. He felt guilty for running away but he didn’t even have a weapon to fight with.

Nico panted, his face pained as he held his pounding head.

“Nico!” Bianca worried, holding her brother close as if she could physically see what pained him and drive it away.

“Gods, Bianca- what did you do?” Nico gasped, half furious and half mournful. He thought he was keeping a good eye on her but there was only so much he could see when he was keeping the others in line too.

“I just- I didn’t think it was a big deal,” Bianca tries to justify but it felt weak to her ears.

“Not a big deal?!” Nico yelled, unable to stop himself from slipping into his native language in his anger. The sounds of the battle so close it made his vison swim with every step of the giant, “I told you one of us will die here- how in the world isn’t that a big deal?!”

“Well, since when did you tell me what to do?!” Bianca yelled back, her own stubbornness against his, “I’m the oldest! I’m the one who’s supposed to be protecting you not the other way around! It’s my job!”

“Not anymore! You gave that up when you joined the Hunters!” Nico glares at her, his face pale and eyes wild.

“I joined to find myself not to lose you!” Bianca cried, chucking something small at him. Nico reeled back at the hit and looked down to see just what she threw at him. What he saw broke his heart.

He picked up the little statue of their father, the thing practically a miniature version of the god. He held it close to his chest and cried.

“Oh Gods, Bianca- What have you done?” He broke down, anger draining to grief. Then, he looked up, eyes teary and grey.

To Bianca, he was unseeing. To Nico, he saw everything.

He saw his sister rush towards the giant, no Nico in sight. Instead, it was Percy who was left behind. He saw her disappear within the metal, making it collapse and with it, her string of life.

He saw Thalia fly up high towards the giant’s face, despite grappling with the fear of being to high up. She shot a bolt towards the metal beast, the impact so devastating it shattered the giant’s head to it’s stomach. As the feeling of victory washed over her, the daughter of Zeus laughed as adrenalin ran through her. Caught up in her win, she couldn’t react to a shard of the giants bronze, slicing her in half.

He saw Zoe Nightshade raining arrow upon arrow to the giant’s skin, none of them landing. She was swift, thousands of years of experience making her quick as lightening. No god or giant could have caught her. Yet, when a bronze sword came down on her, for a moment, she smiled. She could have moved. She could have. She didn’t.

He saw Grover frantically playing his reeds, as if hoping the giant would respond to song. The thing cared nothing for his music, it pursued him all the same. Grover played for vines to erupt from the ground. The plants grabbed at the giant but Grover was not strong enough to hold it down by himself. Satyr’s run quick, but never quick enough, for the metal beast caught up to him.

He saw Percy and Thalia fighting over plans, no Annabeth to calm either of them down. Their gazes were full of fury, yelling accusations that weren’t true. The giant lay taken apart off to the side, the battle over. But the two were stubborn, looking at each other as if they were the true enemy. Clouds gathered overhead but they did not rain, they only thundered. With a furious yell, Thalia pointed her spear towards a man who could have been her friend if Annabeth didn’t perish saving him weeks ago. Lightening struck Percy deep in his chest and there was no water to heal him this time.

HE SAW-

“ANNABETH!” Nico cried, blinking his eyes rapidly to rid him of the thousands of ways this prophecy could be fulfilled. Bianca had moved them ages ago, having to drag her brother along as he lost himself in visions. With his head spinning, he frantically searched for his friend.

“Trust me!” Annabeth yelled to Percy, already running from him as he called out to her. The Daughter of Wisdom yelled at everyone who fought to keep the Giant distracted. She climbed into the sole of the Giant’s sneakers when it raised its foot, a large manhole there for maintenance.

Grover had played his reeds, using vines to wack a power line pole into the Giant’s thigh. The satyr panted, face pale as he staggered a few steps before collapsing, too tired from the magic use. When he didn’t get back up, Thalia and Percy rushed towards him as the giant raised his sword. Before it could slice Grover in half, it froze. It’s joints contorted, moving in ways no human could. Unable to stop itself, it made a fist and punched itself in the face repeatedly.

“Yeah, Annabeth!” Percy cheered as the metal beast punched the good side of it’s face inward.

“What?! Annabeth’s in there?!” Thalia gasped, eyes half proud and half afraid. As the thing staggered around, Percy and Thalia grabbed Grover out of the way. The giant flared wildly, blindly stomping off towards some power lines.

“NO!” Percy screamed, one so loud and full of horror that it was like a hurricane ran through. But the giant didn’t stop, tripping over the power lines. Blue shocks of electricity shot up his body, making the thing jolt. It staggered back, falling apart at the joints as he went. The giant fell apart, top to bottom, collapsing into a pile.

Bianca gasped, clutching her heart as she felt Annabeth’s string snap.

Nico, having felt it too, collapses in grief. The whole reason she was even here was because of him. Annabeth might have been forced to carry the sky but she would have still been alive. Ignoring his dizzying headache, Nico pushes Bianca aside and drops into a shadow.

He landed inside the maintenance center, where Annabeth lay on the only chair in the tiny area. It was dark but the flashing red lights around let him see her bleeding head which hung loosely. The whole space was only enough to fit one person but he didn’t need to stay there long. Nico’s head spun but he pushed through, grabbing Annabeth and dropping outside the giant with her in his arms.

Nico breathed heavily, closing his eyes as he tried to get his bearings. He had collapsed to his knees, cradling Annabeth’s bleeding head in his lap. Percy practically teleported to them, his green eyes frantic like he was lost in a storm. Thalia took Annabeth’s other side, already crying.

“Oh gods, no…” Bianca said softly, her shaky hands coming up to cover her mouth.

Nico slapped his face as hard as he could to snap himself out of his grief. He needed to focus.

“Thalia.” Nico scowls, tone serious. When the girl continued to sob, he slapped her too. That shocked her out of her breakdown, staring wide eyed at the boy.

“Get it together! Annabeth is still in the Underworld’s waiting room- there’s still time.” He starts, watching as Thalia grows more aware at each word.

“The poles still have electricity in them- take some and restart her heart.” He instructs and Zoe came to his side with a serious expression.

“I will tell you when and where to do it,” Zoe says, pushing Percy away so she could have excess to the dead girl. Thalia was in a daze but summoned the electricity from the nearby pole, the very same that caused this, shaping them around her hands.

Zoe got to work performing CPR and whenever she’d pull away, she orders Thalia to shock Annabeth. The second she told Thalia to stop, she started the motions again.

Nico knew it worked seconds before Annabeth gasped. Percy practically cries in relief but Nico stops him from coming closer. Instead, he brazenly rummages through Zoe’s backpack, ignoring the look of annoyance that passed through the immortal’s face. He comes up with a bottle of ambrosia, immediately pouring it directly onto Annabeth’s head wound. His hands were shaking and eyes fearful, afraid the girl would lose her life once again. He almost overloaded her with ambrosia before Grover was quick to grab the bottle from his hand.

With her friend surrounding her, Annabeth was brought back to life with a dazed but relieved expression on her face.

Nico’s tears dried in the flood of his own relief.

At the edge of the dump, there was an old truck. The group had were way past being picky and the old thing somehow had a full tank and workable engine. Zoe had taken to driving the car with Nico in the passenger seat. Usually, a man wouldn’t get so close but Zoe had stopped seeing him as a man. Nico didn’t know whether he should be offended about that or not. He was Apollo’s champion and Zoe was practically Artemis’ champion. In a very flimsy sense, mostly emotional, they were basically cousins. In the way kids would call their parents friends aunt or uncle. Probably helped that Nico was the least annoying boy she had ever met, which was saying a lot considering she’s about 500 years old.

The back window was open, a small connection between the two at the front and the rest of the group sitting in the pickup bed. For all they went through, the cool air was jarring against their somber mood. Annabeth was alive and well but for a moment, they would have had a body for a shroud.

Bianca especially was quiet. She sat in the corner of the pickup bed rather than with everyone else.

“I should have stopped you,” Percy says softly, as if talking too loud would make Annabeth disappear.

“Don’t say that.” She sighs, “I wouldn’t have let you stop me. I just… I didn’t even think- for a moment that..”

“That it would have been you?” Nico hums, looking out into the road that seemed endless. Annabeth looked down at that. She knew her flaw as her pride, she knew since those sirens lured away so easily last year. But that had been a fluke, a song that messed with her mind- if she had been in her right mind, she would have been smart enough to fight against them… but she knows that is just not true. She had been in her right mind then, choosing to be tied down to listen to the sirens. It was foolish, her pride blocking the very wisdom she was so proud of.

It happened again and this time, it had cost her life.

“I had told you all time and time again, dragged you by the ears every time you so much as looked at the junk thrown away in that wretched place,” Nico grits his teeth, glaring out into the desert, “And still…”

He didn’t know if he was angry at his sister for her foolishness or at himself for trying so hard and yet not succeeding anyway. For all the knowledge he has, he can not control people or their decisions. He can train his body and powers until he collapses, but that does not mean he will succeed.

“Why didn’t you stick by Annabeth if you knew she was going to.. to..” Percy started but his anger trails off, the memory of her death still too fresh.

“Percy,” Annabeth scolds but Nico doesn’t let it slide.

“Oh? You think this is easy then, Hm? That I can lock you all up in little cages where the world can’t hurt you? You would accept that life? You didn’t then, when I hammered in very simple instructions to you all and you wouldn’t now.” Nico turns a fierce glare to Percy who was already regretting his unreasonable words.

“And it wasn’t like Annabeth was the only one who could have died then,” He continues, anger growing, “It could have been any one of you. I saw futures where every single one of you go, brutal or quick. I shouldn’t have to- to babysit you all! You know what it’s like- to watch these terrible visions of your friends deaths only for those same friends to throw their lives away because- because of pride?!”

His voice cracks as his emotions get the better of him, tears blurring his eyes, “I shouldn’t have to yell to be heard by you! I shouldn’t have to drag you kicking and screaming towards a good life! Why are all of you so determined to die?! It is nowhere near your time and yet you throw yourself into Thanatos’ arms nonetheless!”

Nico was panting by the time he was done raving, angry and sad all the same. No one said a thing after, Zoe only threw pitying looks towards him. She had experience leading people who didn’t listen, the Hunters hang onto her every word. Anyone who didn’t listen were not not Hunters and therefore, didn’t mean much to her when they threw themselves to their deaths.

The son of Hades takes a deep breath, locking away the fire that burned inside of him. His tears dried quick, like they weren’t ever there in the first place. In the blink of an eye, he was back to being as calm as he always was. To everyone else, it was impressive how in control the boy was of his emotions, like some prince taught a poised mask since his birth. Well, it wasn’t since birth, but Nico had long since known how to hide away his grief. He was always good at running away from things, emotions especially.

No one spoke, all ashamed and a little miffed at the boy’s yelling. Nico wanted to pull his knees up to his chest and hide his face away but two things stopped him. One was the memories of Will ranting about how damaging improper sitting was during car crashs (He’d like to keep his legs today, thanks). The second was how he didn’t want his group to see him as childish as he looked. He spent the whole of his second life carving his place into both camps, like how his father had to so he could get his throne in Olympus.

The thought of having to fight to be seen all over again makes his stomach turn.

Eventually, the road ended and we all had to get out. There wasn’t must around, desert in all directions. The most interesting things was a canyon and the huge river, that spanned fifty yards. Nico had a half thoughtful half irritated look on his face. Though, if you’d look at him for longer, you’d see how his arms around himself ruined the image of a man who could handle the weight of the entire world on his shoulders.

“We need to get to the river,” Grover says and then points up to a tiny ledge winding down the cliff side, “There’s a path.”

“That’s a goat path,” Percy deadpans.

“And?”

“We aren’t goats.”

“We can make it,” Grover hums, analyzing the cliffside as if it would magically spring steps that humans could use. Percy wrinkled his nose at the idea and Thalia turned pale as she took in the high cliff.

“No… We should go further upstream,” Percy said, glancing at Thalia’s fearful demeanor in concern.

The group followed the river about a half a mile before coming to a slope that led down to the water. On the shore was a canoe rental shop that was closed due to the winter season. Percy left some golden drachmas and an ‘IOU’ card in place of money as they took some canoes down stream.

“the rapids are too swift,” Zoe said, looking over the rushing rivers.

“Leave that to me,” Percy, resident water boy, said. They lowered the canoes into the water and set up the oars. When Bianca was going to go into Zoe’s canoe, she stopped her.

“I must speak to thou brother,” Zoe said, voice firm. Bianca looked crushed. Nico’s sister practically shrunk into herself, taking a step away from Zoe. Nico reached for Bianca’s shoulder, but she shrugged him off and went towards Thalia’s canoe. The exchange did not  unnoticed by the rest of the group and seeing all their pitying faces, Bianca wanted to die.

Zoe sighed, looking like she hadn’t slept at all. She seemed sorry as she watched Bianca go but she didn’t try to stop her. Nico went to go follow his sister but Zoe stopped him.

“Nothing thou could say that would help…” Zoe told him, her hand on his shoulder. He looked back to see Thalia and Bianca in their canoe, side by side, Thalia’s arm around his sister. A feeling of helplessness filled him. He could give speech upon speech, guide armies, sweet talk gods, but he could never figure out how to talk to his own sister.

She’s alive, but what to do with her now? He hadn’t thought about that for years now.

Nico follows Zoe into her canoe with Grover, Annabeth, and Percy all piled into their own canoe. They seemed to be having some fun, Percy cracking some joke that broke apart the tension for them.

For Nico and Zoe, the two looked out into the water, taking in the scenery.

She doesn’t turn to look at him when she asks, “Why did you lie?”

“What?” Nico turns to her but she doesn’t move her gaze from the horizon.

“You told me I would find what I was looking for.. I assumed we both meant my death. So why, pray tell, did Athena’s daughter go in my place?” She asks, voice calm and her eyebrows furrowed.

“I didn’t lie.” Nico said, “We were in agreement. I never specified when.”

“Of course. All these years and I am still not used to men’s tricks,” Zoe grits her teeth, turning to glare at him.

“Don’t. That’s not what it was,” Nico says, just as firmly as her. She had lived many years but so had he. He wasn’t a boy that would cower at authority. In many places, he was authority.

“What was it if not dangling relief in my face?” The Huntress scowled, keeping her voice low so the rest of the group couldn’t hear what they were talking about.

“It was me extending an olive branch,” The son of Hades narrowed his eyes at her, sitting straight and proper. Then, the canoe lurched forward. Nico grabbed the edge of the boat to steady himself, lest he fall into the water. Looking over the edge of the boat, he saw naiads pulling the boat along.

“Naiads,” Zoe scowled, clearly displeased with their presence. Apparently, the feeling was mutual, because a stream of water hit her right in the face. Nico pulled her down when she raised her sword.

“Leave them be,” He tried to reason with her, even if he could understand her apprehension some bit. He wasn’t a huge fan of water, anyway.

“Cursed water spirits,” She scowled, sitting back down as she thought better of attacking the people driving the boat in a rushing stream, “They have never forgiven me.”

“Forgiven you for what?”

“Forget it,” Zoe sighed, “It was a long time ago.”

All the canoes started to go faster up stream, as if the naiads also wanted this to be over with.

“What happened back in that junkyard… it wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s,” Nico said, to himself as much as to her. It wasn’t Zoe’s fault and it wasn’t Nico’s either. Someone was always going to die in that place, it was only a matter of who. Was he selfish for pushing his sister to be one of the survivors, when the others have been his friends for years? When he can remember clearly his last conversation with Annabeth but he can barely remember what Bianca was truly like behind the things he made up about her? Things he made up to feel better about her death, covered her behaviors in a layer of a child’s grieving?

“Over two thousand years of leading the Hunt, and my wisdom has not grown a bit… and now… Artemis,” Zoe propped up her elbow of the side of the boat, hand on her forehead.

“There was nothing you could have done.” He told her, his hands folded on his lap.

“I could have fought-“

“Zoe Nightshade.” Nico interrupted her, “There is nothing you could have done. It was always meant to end that way.”

“Like your sister was meant to die in that junkyard?” Zoe fixes him with her piercing stare, as if reading him.

“How did you…”

“Out of all of us, you kept to her the most. You strike me as the type of man to protect the most vulnerable in a group, not just your own interests… that is to say, you saw a future where she died therefore making her the one who needed the most protection.” The Huntress continues. She had said she hasn’t grown any more wise over the years but she was doing pretty alright by Nico’s standards.

Nico sighs, knowing she was right to question his actions.

“Someone dying in that place was inevitable but it… it didn’t have to be my sister.” He says, looking out into the water. All around them the river was a mess of rushing waters that clashed into each other but around their boat, the water was still and docile.

“I know that’s selfish. I know the rest of you are my friends too, it’s just…” Nico takes a breath, not knowing where to go with his sentence. He wants to say that he wouldn’t know what to do without his sister by his side but he does. He knows. He’s lived a life without Bianaca. Hell, he’ll life that life even now, considering she was a Hunter before she was his sister.

“I’m sorry.” He manages.

Looking at it like that, saving Bianca was selfish, illogical… But Nico got to do the one thing that had haunted him for years. He got the chance to save his sister. Why wouldn’t he take it?

He looks up when Zoe places a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t. I’m the one who should be apologizing.” Zoe sighs, “It was unfair of me to put the fault onto you. Especially when you took the time to take the fault off of me.”

Nico pats her hand on his shoulder, shaking the depressive thoughts from his head. He couldn’t think like that. Not now. He didn’t come this far just to fall into His focus is drawn to the giant dam blocking their way.

“Hoover Dam!” Annabeth gasped from her canoe, eyes sparkling with excitement. People walked up on top of the dam, looking as small as flies from the distance. The naiads grumbled something, glaring at the concrete dam fiercely before swimming away.

“It is 726.4 feet tall-“ She started, rattling off facts about the Hoover Dam like a proper tour guide. Percy and Grover looked at her like they’ve heard them a million times before but neither looked like they wanted to stop her, too fond to do so.

“We have to go.” The daughter of Athena said, stars in her eyes and no one had the heart to deny her. They needed a little break and the road was on top of the dam so they had to go there anyway. The group had to walk for almost an hour up the path to actually get up the dam, and it was quite the view when they got up. They were hundreds of feet above the water on one side, one the other was barren desert mountains. It cold and windy on top, which Nico could appreciate. Thalia made sure to keep away from the edges and Nico joined her, already a little uneasy with being high up.

Grover looked uneasy the whole time, sniffing the air and looking around for something unseen by the rest of them.

“Monsters?” Percy asked, looking at his friend with slight concern.

“Yeah… but they might not be close..” Grover said, eyebrows furrowed, “The wind on the dam, the desert all around us… the scent could carry for miles. It’s probably nothing.”

Nico hums and with his eyes closed, he put his focus into feeling the magic that came from reanimated skeletons and all things death magic related. There was a low buzzing of that said magic under the ground, just waiting to crop up and get to work slicing them to pieces. To everyone who looked back at him, Nico looked like he was in some eternal calm. Like he experienced the most peaceful death The Fates had to offer.

“Nico?” A voice brought him out from his concentration. He turned his head to met Zoe’s face, who looked only slightly worried but mostly curious.

“You were right the first time. A satyr’s sense of smell rarely falters.” Nico said, locking eyes with Grover who seemed a little put-off by the sudden attention, “Don’t discredit it. Keep on guard everyone.”

“It’s only two days until the Winter Solstice- do we really need more monsters?” Percy sighs. The boy had been teleported, shot and then almost lost his close friend/crush/love of his life (not that he knows it yet). He is tired of this quest already.

Bianca nodded, also looking put through the ringer. Feeling Annabeth fade had been terrifying, not to mention  the sickening feeling in her stomach that came with the thought that it was her fault. If she had just listened…. Then her first quest might have not had her lose someone. So much for grand Huntress.

The daughter of Hades shakes her head. She didn’t want to think about that.

“There’s a snack bar in the visitor center,” Thalia speaks up, pointing to the direction of the visitor center.

“Yes,” Nico smiled, “Now we can actually eat something other than hiking granola bars.” He thought back to the huge muffin and coffee he lost back when they were attacked by police-skeletons. Oh how he will remember them.

“You’ve been here before?” Percy asked Thalia, who noded.

“We came to see the guardians,” Thalia pointed to the far end of the dam. Crved into the side of the cliff were two big bronze statues. They looked like those trophies that the Oscars give out, just with wings.

“They are dedicated to Zeus, a gift from Athena,” Annabeth smiled, her eyes had a glint of pride in them. Nico took in the sight of them and winced when he was presented with a small image of being carried by them in the sky.

“Nico?” Zoe asked, her eyebrow raised in confusion when Nico winced at nothing, noting how his eyes went grey for a split second.

“It's fine.” The boy answered, still a little wary. The last thing he wanted to be was in the sky but seeing as he wasn’t given a vision of being blasted out of the statues’ hands, he could assume he would be fine… probably.

“What are they doing?” Percy asked, looking over to where tourists were rubbing the toes of the bronze statues.

“Mortals get crazy ideas. They know there’s something special about them but not what so they rub the toes, thinking it’s good luck,” Annabeth says.

“Let us find the dam snack bar,” Zoe sighed, “We need to eat while we can.”

“The dam snack bar?” Grover cracked a smile, and Nico could feel the exasperation building in him. Then a light bulb went off in his head as he finally understood why Percy and Thalia always found “damn” to be so funny.

“There’s no way this is where that came from.” Nico rubs his face with his hand as he tried to fight off a smile.

“What is it? What’s funny?” Zoe blinked in confusion, which was funny to see on such a strict face.

“Nothing… I could just really use some dam French fries,” The satyr snorted, trying to keep a straight face.

“What…? Oh..” Bianca realized what they were going on about and tried to stave off a smile.

“I need to use the dam restroom,” Thalia chuckled.

“Guys, please…” Nico sighed before cracking a smile, “I need some dam coffee.”

The group, minus Zoe, started cracking up. Their string of near-death experiences had them emotionally drained, laughing at this silly joke. Percy’s laughter paused when the clear sound of a cow rang through them. The mortals around didn’t sense anything amiss and that spelled trouble.

“Did I just hear a cow?” Grover asked, looking around for what could have possibly made that noise. What would a cow be doing in the middle of the desert?

“I heard it too,” Percy’s eyebrows were scrunched together in confusion.

“Me too,” Nico said. Percy was quiet for a moment before he asked the group to go on up ahead.

“What’s wrong?” Annabeth asked with worry and confusion in her eyes.

“Nothing… I just need to think..” He responded, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked upset but what about remained to be seen. Nico observed him for a moment, taking in the other boys reluctant stance. He was clearly lying about being ok but maybe seeing his (not yet) girlfriend almost die put a downer on his mood.

“Be safe,” Nico told him, willing to let him get some air. After all, he was the last person to fault someone for needing time alone. The rest of the group hesitated, especially Annabeth. She was young and prideful so her first thought was “where will you go where I can’t follow?” but Annabeth had never been an illogical or cruel person. So she followed the rest when they headed towards the dam snack bar.

The group was just sitting down with their food when Percy came running in. Nico had been chugging his coffee (Iced this time, to drink it as soon as he got it). The others had looked at him weird but he knew rest periods were never long on quests- not ones with Percy Jackson in them.

“We have to go!” Percy gasped, “Right now!”

“But we just got our burritos!” Thalia said, throwing her hands up in irritation.

Zoe cursed in Ancient Greek, “No, he is right- Look!”

Behind Percy had the cafeteria windows that showed off the groups of skeletons heading right their way.

“Chug your drinks and shove your food into Bianca’s backpack- we got to go!” Nico said, grabbing his sister’s backpack (Which was still on her) and shoving his wrapped burrito into it.

“Wha- hey!” She protested, especially when the girls followed Nico’s lead.

“I am sick of those dam granola bars!” Nico scowled. He looked out back to the army that was approaching, which were armed with batons and pistols. They blocked the east side of the road, the way into Arizona, and the west side, effectively blocking Nevada too. Then three skeletal warriors appeared in the stairs, no doubt the ones who chased Percy here.

“Elevator!” Grover yelled, still holding his burrito like he was going to eat it on the way. They bolted in that direction but the doors opened right then, revealing three more warriors.

Surrounded, Grover made a move.

“Burrito fight!” Grover yelled, throwing his half eaten burrito towards a skeleton which knocked it’s skull right off it’s body. The other kids in the cafeteria went ballistic, following Grover’s lead and throwing their foods at each other with, shrieking and screaming.

“Let’s go, people!” Nico waved his hands towards the stairs.

Chapter Text

The skeleton warriors tried to aim for them, but with the amount of food, drinks, and bodies flying around, they could never get a clear shot. Thalia and Percy tackled the two skeletons that blocked the stairs, sending them flying towards a condiment table. The group raced downstairs, dodging food and drinks on the way down.

“Damnit,” Annabeth gritted her teeth, her stormy eyes looking in every direction for an escape. They ran across the street towards the winged statues, but that only cornered them, their backs to a mountain. Skeletons surrounded them, some of them rearranging themselves and putting themselves back together. They were covered in various condiments and food, clattering angrily as they drew their batons.

Bianca drew her dagger but she was only one girl, untrained in close combat, against seven skeletons. Zoe stepped forward, prepared to cover Bianca as she led herself into battle. Nico cursed under his breath and looked around for any other solution then have his sister go in fighting blind.

“Whoa,” Percy said, looking at the bronze statues’ rubbed toes, “Their toes are really bright.”

“Percy, seriously? This is not the time!” Thalia scowls but Nico stared at the statues, trying to figure out just why they caught Percy’s attention. He gasped as he remembered the vision he had earlier, the one where he was carried through the sky. The son of Hades brought a hand up to touch the statues but the closer his hand got, the warmer the statues felt. When his hand got close enough, little sparks of electricity showed up as if to ward Nico away. He drew his hand away quickly, not wanting to get shocked.

Statues for Zeus, warding him off like that… there was more to them than just pretty metal.

“Thalia- pray to your father,” Nico instructed before Percy could open his mouth, about to tell her the same thing.

“What? He never answers,” Thalia scowls, though she lost her irritation when she met eyes with Nico, who was scolding her with his gaze alone. He gave her that look mothers gave you when you were acting out in public but they couldn’t yell lest they embarrass themselves.

“Ok, ok, jeez…” She grumbles and closes her eyes to start desperately praying under her breath. As she does, six skeletons raised their guns towards them. Percy prayed too, sending his pleading towards Athena instead, since it was a gift from her to Zeus.

Thalia peeked to see the skeletons coming closer. She cursed but then continued her praying. As much as she doubted it was going to work, Nico had never failed them before. So as the seconds pass with nothing happening, she kept praying, putting her trust in the boy.

Then a shadow fell over the group and Nico gained a large victorious grin on his face. He looked up to see the statues slash their swords, cutting the skeletons with batons in half. The warriors with guns aimed and opened fire on them. Annabeth, who was still wearing that lion coat, moved to shield Percy instinctively. The son of Poseidon’s eyes widened, as if shocked by the protection.

But none of the bullets hit her- or any of them- because the shadow that covered them was actually a bronze wing. The bullets pinged off them, both of the statues stepping forward to cover them.

“Man, does it feel good to stand up!” The first angel said, stretching up. His voice was rusty and hoarse, as if he’s never drank anything in his life.

“Ugh, look what they’ve done to my toes..” The second angel scowled down at his feet, which were rubbed into a shine. The group of children/ children look-alikes, craned their neck up to get a good look at their saviors.

“Get us out of here!” Thalia shouted up at them when the skeletons started piecing themselves back together.

“Zeus’s kid?” One of the statues blinked while the other eyes Percy, Nico, and Bianca warily.

“How about a please first, Miss Zeus’s Kid?”

Thalia looked furious that the statues were toying with her, but she had enough sense to swallow her pride this once.

“Please!” She said through gritted teeth. It was not the most sincere of pleads but the two seemed to buy it as they looked at each other.

“Well.. could use the stretch.”

No one had time to react for in the next second, they scooped up as many of us as they could into their arms and took off into the air.

Nico was pressed against the chest of the statue between Thalia and Percy, their legs dangling in the air as they were held up. Both Thalia and Nico had their eyes pressed shut, clinging onto the bronze arm that was the only thing keeping them up.

“Tell me when it’s over,” Thalia practically whined. The son of Hades has never heard her sound like that but he was too scared to make fun of her.

“Everything’s fine!” Percy called over the rapid winds hitting them, like the liar he was.

“Are… very high?” She said weakly.

“Uhm..” Percy took a second before saying, “No, not high..”

“We’re in the Sierras!” Zoe called from the other statue, “I have hunted here before! At this speed, we will be at San Francisco in a few hours!”

“Hey, hey, Frisco!” The angel holding Nico and the others said. The son Hades distracted himself from the way they could very well fall to their deaths by letting his little ADHD mind wonder. He wondered why Athena gifted Zeus angel statues, considering that was leaning towards Christianity typically but the Greek Pantheon had plenty of people with wings so maybe it had something to do with that? Though he doesn’t know why a statue of Eros would please Zeus. Maybe it was towards something, or someone else?

“You guys visited San Fransico?” Percy’s voice broke through his musings. Damn it, Percy.

“Oh yeah, little man-“

“Little man?” Percy gaped, miffed by the angels casual disrespect. Nico chuckled under his breath.

“We automans have to get out some time, right?” The angel said, barreling through Percy’s offense, “Some mechanics took us over and we met these marble lady statues-“

“Hank!” The other statue, Chuck, interrupts, tone scolding, “They’re kids, man.”

“Right,” If bronze statues could blush, Hank would be doing that right now, “Oops. Back to flying.”

The automans sped up, getting excited at the thought of meeting some more marble ladies, though how they got it on, Nico didn’t have a clue. They shouldn’t have the parts for it…

The group eventually got bored of going miles per hour in such a dangerous way. Grover played whatever song came to mind, even if they many of them didn’t sound good on wooden pipes. Zoe had started teaching Bianca how to shot better. Sure, she was given the gift of good aim when she joined the Hunters but pure perfection was brought by practice. They aimed for any Target billboards they passed, which they were a lot of. Bianca didn’t particularly want to open her eyes and aim, either, but she so desperately wanted to prove herself to Zoe that she pushed that fear down. Zoe brought her along with them because she thought Bianca could handle it. She couldn’t let her think she had made a mistake.

Especially not after what she did at the junkyard. The thought of anyone finding out how foolish she was then made her hands shake a little, making her miss her shot by a hands length. Still, it was not good enough, because Zoe sighed beside her.

“You can not let this fear overcome you, Dear Bianca,” She said, equating her shaking to fear of the heights, “There will be many things that scare you in life but as Hunter, you strive to spend decades hunting down those fears. For as long as you live. Remember that.”

Bianca took a deep breath and gained a determined look in her eyes when inside, she felt so unsure.

‘For the rest of my life…’

The group spent hours in the air before they finally landed in San Fransico. Nico had been there once. For a short period of time, he lived frugally in some beat-up motel that definitely shouldn’t have let him stay there. Minos was always over his shoulder, whispering his dark lies that made the dingy little space worse to be at. Sometimes, he missed that life. It was so easy, pretending he didn’t exist. He never had to take much or even eat. Or at least, that’s how it felt. Just train and stare up at the ceiling of that damned room. It took years for him to value being alive, to want to exist.

“So,” The statues voice interrupted his musings, “Where do you kids want to land?”

“There!” Zoe called out from Chuck’s arms, “By the Embarcadero Building.”

“Good thinking,” Chuck said, “Me and Hank can blend in with the pigeons.”

No one but Nico gave him a laugh for that and it was more of a humored chuckle that probably came from the lack air he was getting so high up.

“See? He gets it.” The angel chuckles which makes Hank laugh.

When they landed, there weren’t many people around. It was early morning, the sun only just starting to peek from the horizon. They landed on the ferry dock, freaking out a homeless guy who saw through the Mist. They parted with the angels, who flew off to party with some statue friends.

“What we need to do is find out what monster Artemis was chasing,” Annabeth says, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

“and Nereus is just how we do that,” Nico pipes up.

“What? What’s Nereus?” The son of the sea questioned.

“Not what- who. We are to look for the old man of the sea. It is said that he knows everything,” Nico continued. Nereus was more or less regarded as a prophet- or at least, treated like one. So, Nico was looking forward to meeting him. After all, Nereus was the one who had told Paris the war he would bring to his country if he kidnapped Helen. Paris, of course, did it anyway. Nico wondered if they could bond over knowing so much and being listened to so little.

“Any idea on where to find this mystery man?” Percy asks.

“Unfortunately, I have that knowledge. He is never hard to find, just follow the smell,” Zoe wrinkled her nose in disgust as if already smelling something bad in the air. She lead the group to a Goodwill drop box. She dressed Percy in a ragged flannel shirt, these jeans that were three sizes too big, bright red sneakers, and a floppy rainbow hat.

“Oh, yeah,” Grover started through his miserable attempts not to laugh, “you look completely inconspicuous now.”

“A typical male vagrant.” Zoe nodded.

Nico laughed with the others before taking Percy’s hat from him once his laughter died down a bit. He took a step back to examine the outfit again and shrugged.

“Best we got now,” Nico chuckled, putting the rainbow hat back where it was found.

“Why am I doing this again?” Percy sighed, standing like he’s new to wearing clothes and hated how they clung to him.

“To blend in.” Zoe hummed.

“No, I meant why me,” Percy huffed.

“Hey, I think you look great,” Annabeth smothered her laughter unsuccessfully.

“Yeah, but maybe some makeup to freshen your ugly mug up,” Thalia quipped, making Percy throw a nearby shoe at her.

“You don’t have eyeliner on you?” Nico questions, “But how have you had it on for so long, then?”

“Have I really?” Thalia blinked and Annabeth handed her some hand mirror. She exmined her eyes, which still had very smudged eyeliner on. She whistled, impressed, “I need to catch up on that stuff, it’s strong.”

“What’s the brand?” Nico asked, making the others blink in surprise.

“What? It looks cool!” He blushed, shy from the sudden attention.

“Nico,” Bianca whispered, nudging him with a warning look in her eyes.

“No, It’s fine,” Thalia smile, looking a little smug. She hasn’t had a kid look up to her in a good while. Annabeth grew up without her and grew into a style way off from hers.

“Is it not…” Bianca winced with blush on her face, not wanting to continue her sentence. She may not remember much but she had a feeling her mother would not appreciate her using the word ‘odd’ for this. She accepted her brother, but would they so easily? After all, the two of them knew better than to speak so boldly about things like this.

“Oh yeah... you're like, way older, right?” Thalia realizes, remembering the way Bianca was amazed by automated doors back at the subway.

"Last I remember... we didn't speak of these things in public.." The daughter of Hades looked around warily, as if scared someone would overhear the conversation.

“If you can wield a bow and swear off men, I can wear eyeliner and paint my nails,” Nico said, standing straighter with a determined look in his eyes. He looked like a child again, with this glimmer of excitement in his eyes. It took him years to be comfortable with liking boys, even longer to allow himself things outside his ‘gender role’. He never wanted to be what he was all those years ago- scared of his own heart. He was determined to be as free as he had grown to be before.

Bianca smiled at his words, genuine happiness he hadn’t seen in a long time. She couldn’t believe their luck. What were the odds of them landing a group of friends who let them be themselves like this? To let her brother have this much confidence about himself?

“Don't worry. After all this is over, I’ll teach you a thing or two, Nico,” Thalia says, ruffling his hair and laughing when he bats her hand away.

“Until then, follow me,” Zoe said, leading the group down to the docks. She stopped in her tracks when she spotted groups of homeless people huddled together in blankets, waiting near the soup kitchen for lunch.

“He will be down there,” She says, “He is never far from the water. You will find him out sunbathing.”

“How will I know which one is him?” Percy asked, looking out into the groups of people down at the docks.

“He will smell different,” Zoe told him, “and when you find him, grab onto him. Whatever he does, do not let go, no matter what he does or says. You must make him tell you about the monster.”

“We’ll step in if anything goes wrong,” Annabeth patted Percy’s arm, giving him a reassuring smile.

“We got a prophet and immortals on our team but I’m the one who has to…” He grumbled as he went down to where Zoe pointed.

“Why couldn’t you just tell him where the monster was?” Annabeth asked, looking towards Nico. He was a prophet, couldn’t he just tell them the answer.

Nico laughed harder than he ever had the entire trip, and that was answer enough.

‘Right.’ Annabeth’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance, ‘little kid.’

They heard some screaming and all watched as the water burst, revealing Percy holding onto a whale for dear life. When tourists gawked at the sight, he had the audacity to wave at them like this was an everyday thing. The group ran down to meet him when Percy finally had Nereus pinned down on the edge of the boat dock.

“You got him!” Zoe said, eyes widened.

“You don’t have to sound so surprised!” Percy scowls but he looked perfectly well, not a scratch in place or even out of breath.

”Oh, wonderful!” Nereus groaned, “More of those terrible heroes, come to witness my humiliation! Let me guess. The normal deal? I answer your questions and then you let me go?”

“I got more than just one question,” Percy tightened his hold on the old god.

“Agh! You menace! It’s one question per capture! Those are the rules!” Nereus wiggled around but the son of the sea did not lighten up.

“Just ask about the monster,” Nico spoke up.

“What the- you! Are you with him, Little Prophet? Could you not spare me this attack?” Nereus scowled up at Nico who looked completely calm if not a little amused.

“No way, you see how he’s handling you? I had half a mind to keep my distance,” The boy joked.

“Enough.” Percy glared down at Nereus, “Where is the monster that could bring an end to the gods? The one Artemis was hunting.”

The Old Man of the Sea smiled a crooked and mossy green grin.

“Oh, that’s too easy. He’s right there,” Nereus cocked his head to the water at Percy’s feet. Then, he turned into a goldfish, completely freeing himself from Percy’s hold, and swimming away.

“What the- Hey! Come back here!” Percy yelled to the sea but Nereus was long gone by now. Nico looked down to where Nereus had pointed to and his eyes met the sad brown eyes of a baby cow. Well, half-baby cow, half-fish thing.

“Bessie?” The son of the sea blinked in confusion, “Not now, girl.”

“Uh, he says his name is not Bessie. Nor is he a girl,” Grover chuckled.

“What? What’s her… his name?”

“Ophiotaurus…” The Styr said, his smile fading. Annabeth gasped beside him, her hands coming up to hover over her mouth.

“Percy… That’s him. The monster.” Her eyes met Percy’s, her thoughts racing, “In the myths, the Ophiotaurus needs to be sacrificed-“

“MOOO!” Bessie moos, trashing in protest.

“He doesn’t like the s word…” Grover winced.

“Annabeth is right,” Zoe nodded, a firm look in her face, “The Fates ordained a prophecy eons ago, when this creature was born. They said that whoever slayed him and sacrificed his entrails to fire would have the power to destroy the gods.”

“MOOO!!”

“Maybe avoid talking about entrails too…”

“The power to destroy the Gods..” Thalia eyed the cow with wonder in her eyes and the more she looked, the more greed entered her gaze. She sat on down on the dock and held out her hand to Bessie, who swam over to meet her. She placed her hand on his head and her expression turned … hungry.

Nico casually knocked his knuckles against her arm to snap her out of it.

“We have to protect him- If Luke gets a hold of him-” Percy started before Annabeth cut him off.

“Hold on, Percy. The power to overthrow Olypmus.. that power is huge. Luke wouldn’t.. it’s too dangerous.” She said though she didn’t sound very confident in her words.

“Annabeth, Luke wouldn’t hesitate,” Thalia says, eyebrowed furrowed. She didn’t like thinking about her former… friend being capable of something like that, but she had always seen darkness in Luke’s heart. She knew he was capable of it. She remembered late nights, where they’d just vent about everything shitty in their lives (And there was a lot). The topic of his father always made Luke quiet down, going from ranting to stone cold anger. He’d get this… look in his eyes. Thalia wondered if she had gotten the same look just now and that was why Nico tapped her.

“And neither should you,” A voice came out from behind them, with a heavy accent. While the others were startled by his appearance, Nico took a deep irritated breath. Dr. Thorn took in the sight of them all, specifically the big three kids here.

“All of you.. in one place,” He smiles, a crooked, ugly smile. He wore a ratty black trench coat over his Westover Hall uniform, torn and stained like he had been going through fights ever since they last saw him. His clothes, coupled with his spiky, greasy hair and his silver stubble on his chin, made him blend in with the guys down at the soup kitchen.

“You look well,” Nico raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the manticore. He had a personal grudge on that creature and while he had learned to let things go for years now, he felt he could hold this grudge for as long as he’d like.

“Long ago,” The monster started and Nico gritted his teeth at the fact that he had to stand here and listen to his evil monologue, “The Gods banished me to Persia. I was forced into the sidelines, devouring insignificant human farmed for my meals. Never again was I great, never feared and admired like in the old stories! But that changes. The Titans will honor me for I shall bring them their weapon to victory! Then, I shall feast on every little godling in that damned camp!”

On either side of him stood two armed security guards, some of them the mortal mercenaries that had chased them to the train in D.C. Two more stood on the next boat dock over, blocking their escape.

“Where… Where are the skeletons?” Percy asked.

“Damn you, Son of the Sea!” Dr. Thorn sneered, “I don’t need those foolish undead! The General thinks me worthless, but I shall convince him otherwise when I send you to Hades!”

“Aggressive,” Bianca huffed, summoning her bow with a determined look on her face.

“And completely unthreatening,” Nico smirked, the kind that made Dr. Thorn turn red with anger.

“You! Son of Hades- I will take great pleasure in devouring you first! There is no goddess to save you now,” He scowled, shaking his fist at the boy. Completely unbothered, Nico thought he looked like an old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn. Though his words were taken seriously, as his reminder of Artemis’ situation had Zoe aim straight for his head.

“Don’t!” Percy said.

The manticore smiled, leaning back as if unbothered by the threat on his life. “Listen to the boy, Zoe Nightshade. Put that cursed item away- It would be a shame to kill you before Thalia’s great victory.”

“What are you ranting about now?” Thalia sneered, her spear and shield on hand, ready to shut the monster up.

“Surely it is clear,” He smirked, “Daughter of the Sky, this is your moment. This is why Kronos brought you back to life.”

“Stop this!” Annabeth yelled, “It was Luke who brought her back!”

“Foolish girl!” He barked, “Do you really think that? It was planned from the beginning! Thalia Grace lives as she does now to be the Titan King’s victory! That blasted Son of Thieves cared little for her outside of that.”

“You’re a liar!” She denied but the manticore laughed at the desperation in her eyes.

“The irony! Daughter of Wisdom- blinded by Love!”

Thalia turned her spear on, electricity crackling at the spearhead. Annabeth flinched at the sight but Thalia did not take her glare off the monster, nor did she turn her spear off.

“Thalia Grace, don’t try to kill me- not when I can give you what you crave. Kronos gave you life once more and you shall repay him by overthrowing Olympus. Slay the Ophiotaurus and sacrifice it’s entrails to fire. Then you will have power so great, your father will regret never caring for you.”

Silence waved through the group. No one wanted to think of their friend capable of such a thing, but it made a terrifying about of sense. Thalia was a mere two days away from turning sixteen and what had her father ever done for her? Her father’s ‘blood’ runs through her and with it, the curse to never live a normal life.

Thalia gripped her spear tightly as she thought. The first time she had ever seen her father, she was 7 years old. How sad was that? First time in 7  years. When he visited again, he barely spent much time with her, mostly focusing on her mom. Nine months later, her baby brother was born. 2 years later, everything went to Hades as her mother, half-crazed, walked out the door with her brother and walked in without him. Where was her father then? When his 2 year old son went missing, where was he then? Where is he now?

“You know it is the right choice,” Dr. Thorn continued, smirking at her hesitation as if he already won, “Your friend Luke recognized it, the greatness in you. You can reunite with him again and crush Olympus underfoot, hand in hand. Call the beast! Call it and be with Luke again!”

“Your father helped you.” Percy said, almost desperately at the face of her hesitation, “He turned you into a tree to preserve you.”

Thalia turned to Nico, looking to the one person who could give her a straight answer. Percy looked too and he saw the young son of Hades standing with his hands folded in front of him. He said nothing but he didn’t need to.

Everything they needed was in his eyes.

Staring into those deep black eyes with that silver ring around his iris, they saw the hardened man he had buried in his soul. In his strength, Thalia found her own.

She raised her shield in front of her and banged her spear against it, eyes fierce as she glared up at the monster.

“Come over here and make me,” She snarled.

Ready for the fight, Grover brought his reeds up to his lips and played a quick riff.

“Stop him!” Dr. Thorn ordered above his playing but his music made vines appear to grab at the soldiers legs. Bianca shot at them, her arrows exploding into smoke when they landed. The guards started coughing and tried to wave the smoke away. The manticore roared and shot his spines into the group.

“Grover! Tell Bessie to get out of here!” Percy yelled as he dodged the poisonous spikes.

“Let’s go!” Nico grabbed Thalia. It was her they were after. He pulled her along to the stairs of the shopping center on the pier, dashing into the nearest store. Behind them, there were screams as the guards shot blindly into the air to clear the tourists out. The group hid behind a little kiosk filled with souvenirs- wind chimes, and dream catchers, glittering in the sunlight. Looking down, the whole of San Francisco Bay spread out under them.

“Go over the side!”  Zoe told Percy, “Call upon thy father for guidance and escape into his domain.”

“I’m not leaving you guys!” Percy scowled, “We fight together.”

“Word needs to get to camp,” Annabeth tells him, “They need to know what’s going on.”

“Good idea,” Percy smirked like he just got an idea. He summoned his sword and slashed off the top of a nearby water fountain. In it’s spray, it made a rainbow. Annabeth immediately threw a golden drachma into the colors and yelled, “O Goddess, accept my offering!”

“Camp Half-Blood!” Percy said when the water rippled. In the shimmering mist stood Mr. D, wearing his leopard-skin jogging suit, rummaging through the refrigerator.

“Do you mind?” He drawled out lazily at the sudden sight of them.

“Where’s Chiron!” Percy demanded.

“How rude.” Mr. D hummed, completely unbothered. The group was ragged, having not taken a shower in days and haven’t had a proper meal too, all staring at Mr. D in disbelief.

“We’re about to die!” Percy scowled, “Where’s Chiron?”

Nico pinched the bridge of his nose in between his pointer finger and thumb and sighed.

“So, we found the monster Lady Artemis was searching for. The Ophiotaurus. We actually have it with us now. Anyway, Lady Artemis is still stuck, getting to her now. We thought you should know.” He said, He didn’t want to waste time and also didn’t understand why they needed Chiron for this information.

“There!” The manticore yelled from behind them and then we were surrounded by guards. He threw off his coat, revealing his true self with the claws and spikes a monster could think of. The others turned to the enemy, drawing weapons in preparation of a fight.

“You could… say please,” Mr. D chuckled as if the thought amused him.

“Please, Mr. D,” Percy started, looking like it physically hurt him to say those words, “Help.”

Nothing happened which only seemed to make Percy more angry. Nico calmly dipped his hands in the sea water, kneeled towards the direction of the sun and held his hands up high. Then, he started to pray Apollo. He had no offerings and his prayers didn’t have half the humility usually required. Still, he knows his patron god would answer. Usually, help from him was forbidden but considering it was through a prayer, for a quest, and he was his only Prophet is centuries, there was some leeway.

“Spare the daughter of Zeus, we don’t need the rest,” The manticore smiled cruelly. He couldn’t smile for long because as soon as Nico started praying the weather got hotter and hotter. He could taste a twinge of golden apples on his tongue, his mouth salivating a little. The sun blazed down on them, the guards stopping as it got too terrible to ignore. They started to sweat, then to cough. Nico let his prayer trail off, putting his hands on his lap. He watched as the nearest guard started to strip his jacket off, to rid himself of the heat. Instinctually, they knew they had to get rid of this heat before even thinking of killing them. They fanned at themselves as their skin turned red, sweat pouring from their skin.

Then came the screaming.

Their skin glowed red, as if their very bones were switched for hot irons and it showed through their layers of flesh. They scratched their skin, flapped their arms, anything to get whatever was eating away at them out.

Their screaming grew so loud that Nico was sure the next town overheard them.

Skin melted off bone, sizzling when it landed on the dock. The smell made Nico gag. He bent over, his forehead to the concrete. In a rare sight of childishness, he looked away as if it would mean that the horrors would cease to exist. He put his hand over his nose and mouth, putting all his energy into trying not to throw up.

His fingers dug into his cheeks as his breathing grew faster.

He hated meat.

Flesh tainted his tongue, his nose, and his mind.

Then, he smelt wine. The scent of sweetness, drove away the raging in his mind. No longer did he have to put all his power into not painting the dock in his puke. He could breathe normally again.

“Damn it…” Dr. Thorn scowled, “What… such brutality. A sight only common in ancient times. What..”

Nico looked up to meet the monsters eyes. He avoided looking at the piles of bubbling flesh around them. He wiped the sweat from his forward before pulling his hair back, revealing his golden sun earrings.

Dr. Thorn flinched back, anger and fear flooding his eyes.

“Well.. that was quite the show.” Mr. D hummed behind him. He looked thoughtful and maybe a little concerned, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the piles of gore.

Nico’s friends were stunned silent. Horrified.

The smell of wine Nico had smelt earlier grew stronger, with grape vines erupting under the dock and slithering up the manticore’s paws. Small baby grapes grew and ripened immediately on them, growing vines with them that wrapped so tightly around the beast that it looked like he would burst.

“No! NO….!” The manticore’s voice rang as he tried to claw at the plants but it was no use. In what felt like just a few seconds, he was engulfed into a giant mound of plants. It quivered and his voice grew quieter and quieter until it was no more and the shaking stopped.

“Thank you,” Nico said towards the sun before repeating to Mr. D, the slight quiver in his voice betraying his calmness.

“Do not extend gratitude,” The god huffed, though he looked more uncomfortable than irritated, “It was mostly your patron god who extended such… brutality. Again, I am left to wonder just who you are, Nico Di Angelo.”

Unperturbed by Mr. D’s sudden articulate speech, Nico meets his gaze like they were on equal footing. The god was too put off to threaten him for it.

“Well, don’t grace me with an answer then,” Mr. D said at the face of Nico’s silence. The connection was cut off with a wave of the man’s hand.

Zoe was the first to gather herself together again as she had seen divine punishment plenty of times in her life. She straightened up, her eyes hardening.

“We must move. The Winter Solstice is near and Artemis is yet to be freed.” She said, voice like a general going off to war, “We must go to the garden of my sisters,”

Thaila nodded, visibly shaken but trying hard to mask her fear.  Zoe took in the sight of them, trying to process the horror they just witness. Her eyes met Nico’s, who looked so deeply sad, as if he was grieving something. She only saw that for a second before Nico stood up to follow her and the rest followed.

No one said anything during their walk, most of the noise came from Annabeth and Nico. Annabeth threw up twice during the walk while Nico held his hand to his mouth and kept his eyes forward to avoid doing the same.

“We must get to the garden by sunset. The gates will only open then, as the Hesperides are nymphs of the sunset.” Zoe said, trying to ride them of the unbearable silence.

“We need a car.” Thalia said, cheeks still pale.

“What about Bessie..?” Percy said, still looking conflicted.

“Uhm… The Ophiotaurus can appear in different bodies of water.” Grover spook up shakily, “We need to get him back to Long Island. Chiron will get him to Olympus then.”

“How will he know the way?”

“I can.. go with him. I can show him.” The satyr straightened up, trying to be brave. He leaned down to whisper something in the cow serpents ear. The creature made a content sound, like he just experienced a fresh cup of hot chocolate on a cold night.

“Percy,” Nico started, powering through the fog that threatened to overtake him. He lifted his hand to touch Percy’s arm, to get his attention, but when his fingers grazed him, Percy flinched back. Nico drew his hand back just as quickly and Percy looked guilty for his reaction. As if to make up for it, Percy put his own hand on Nico’s arm.

“Yeah?” The son of the Sea asked, looking concerned at the tired look in Nico’s eyes.

“Pray to your father. Ask him for safe passage for Grover and the creature.” He says, voice quiet as if he didn’t have the energy to speak any louder.

“Pray…?” The older of the two grimaced, the sight of flesh burning off bone still fresh on his mind.

“That….” He started before sighing, “I don’t know what that was. Just. Ask your father. Sacrifice anything big enough to make the trip worth it.”

Annabeth stepped forward and handed over her Nemean lion pelt without another word. Nico took it gently and then gave it to Percy, who seemed to snap out of his thoughts. He nods solemnly and turns to the sea.

“Dip your hand in the water and hold your hands up just mid-high. Then pray.” Nico instructs as he wanted to go a little by the book, as if it would cover up the massive fuck-up that was before. Percy follows his instructions, and then prayed.

“Uhm. Dad.” Percy started, causing an immediate scent of the sea to waft through the air. “We need some help. Get the Ophiotaurus and Grover to camp safely, protect them at sea.”

Then he threw his coat into the water, which rippled with power before the jacket sank into the depths of the sea.

Grover winced as he watched the coat go. “A shame, it was so useful…. Heracles used it!”

“I am not like Heracles,” Percy said, straightening up a bit with a determined look in his eyes. Nico raised an eyebrow at his words, and the way Zoe seemed to appreciate them, but he didn’t ask anything further.

“No time like the present,” Grover took a deep breath before jumping into the water, to which he immediately began to sink. Bessie swan up next to him, close enough for Grover to wrap his arms around the cows neck.

“Be safe.” Percy waved at them, his eyes concerned. His satyr friend nodded, and as he was not in the mood for any more words, told Bessie to head to Long Island. The pair disappeared into the depths quickly, wasting no time in getting back to camp Half Blood.

“And now,” Zoe started, “The problem of transportation. We need to get to my sister’s garden quickly.”

Annabeth looked uncomfortable at the mention of transportation.

“Nico. You came to us in a cloud of shadow- could you do that again?” She asks. Nico sighed at her question. He’s had some days of rest without his powers, but could he really make the jump with this younger body of his? He’s avoided looking at any reflective surface, knowing he wouldn’t be able to recognize himself. His body wasn’t familiar to him but his shadows were.

“Doesn’t your… dad live around here?” Percy asks Annabeth, making both of them wince uncomfortably. Apparently, there was a story there Nico didn’t know.

“If he does, couldn’t we borrow his car?” Bianca asks, her shifting in place when the groups attention shifted to her, “It’s just… I know Nico has that shadow thing but I don’t like it. It’s too new to use so liberally.”

“He made a four-hour trip in seconds.” Annabeth argues.

“And he was damn near unconscious because of it.” The daughter of Hades said, growing more determined, stubborn as a mule. Nico gaped, never having heard Bianca curse. Well, it wasn’t much of a curse but for Bianca sure as hell was. Annabeth stared her dead on, just as stubborn as any of them. But then she looked at Nico, who still had baby fat on his cheeks, standing short next to the older kids around him. Her resolve faded. What was one more uncomfortable evening?

After knocking on Annabeth’s – or really, her dad’s- door, out came a man Nico knew had to be Annabeth’s father. He wore a old fashioned aviator’s cap and goggles, eyes bugging out from through his glasses. He had this look in his eyes that screamed ‘mad scientist’ and Nico could see how that would amuse Athena for a whole conversation. That and the fact that he was pretty handsome.

“Hello,” He greeted with a friendly smile, “Are you delivering my airplanes?”

“Dad.” Annabeth returned his greeting with an exasperated look. Her father blinked at the sight of her, not expecting her.

“Annabeth! How nice it is to see you,” He chuckles and Nico immediately cringes at how he talks to his daughter like she was an old acquaintance. Frederick Chase’s smile faded when he took in the sight of them. They have been running ragged for days now, with no proper sleep, food, or clothes.

“You all better come in, it’s freezing out here,” He said, concern in his eyes.

The house was very lived in, though that might have been because of the two little boys playing with robots by the stairs. Lots of Legos, magazines, and the like. Nico pet the sleeping cats they passed idly as they looked around curiously. There was jazz music coming from the kitchen- it all screamed happy family.

The only thing that seemed out of place was…. Them. Even Annabeth, who Nico assumed was used to the place, looked out of place there. She stood around as if she was a new friend invited over and not… their daughter.

“Dad!” One of the little boys by the stairs screamed, “He’s taking apart my robots!”

“Bobby,” Dr. Chase called absently,” Don’t take apart your brother's robots.”

“I’m Bobby- He’s Matthew!” The boy protested.

“Matthew,” Dr. Chase called, “Don’t take apart your brother's robots!”

“Ok, Dad!” The two called.

“We’ll go upstairs,” He said, turning to face the group, “We’ll talk in my study.”

“Honey?” A woman's voice called from the kitchen and Annabeth’s mood visibly worsened from awkward to uncomfortable. Out came a pretty Asian woman with her red-highlighted hair tied up in a bun.

“Annabeth,” The woman blinked in surprise at the sight of her step-daughter. Annabeth gave little reaction outside the way she stiffened under her step-mothers eyes, clearly desiring to be anywhere but here.

“And who might you all be?” The woman looked towards the group of rag-tag teens behind her.

“My friends…” Annabeth said, gesturing towards the group, who all introduced themselves.

“Oh, you’re the Percy Jackson I’ve heard so much about?” Dr. Chase hummed, taking in the sight of Percy. Nico snickered under his breath as Annabeth and Percy blushed.

“Dad, please.” Annabeth muttered, embarrassed. “This is important, let’s talk in your study.”

“I’ll bring up some food, you all look starved,” Mrs. Chase joked, heading back into the kitchen.

Upstairs, Dr. Chase’ study was covered wall to wall in books. To the side of the room, there was a huge table with miniature tanks and soldiers fighting along a blue painted river, with fake hills and trees and the like. Old-fashioned biplanes hung on the strings from the ceiling, tilted to mimic battle.

“The Third Battle of Ypres,” Dr. Chase said, gesturing to the scene proudly, “I’m writing a paper, you see, on the use of Sopwith Camels to strafe enemy lines. I think they played a much greater role than they’ve been credited.”

He plucked a biplane from its string and flew it around, making airplane noises as he knocked down little German soldiers. Zoe studied the battlefield with a scrutinizing look.

“The German lines were farther from the river.” She hummed.

“How do you..?” Dr. Chase blinked in awe.

“She’s a Hunter, Dad, but really-“ Annabeth started before her dad interrupted her.

“You saw the Sopwith Camels? With your very own eyes?” He asked, growing more excited, “How many were there? What formations did they fly?”

“Sir.” Nico interrupted, trying to be polite, though Zoe didn’t have such reservations with men.

“Enough of this.” She said firmly, “We need something from you. The fate of the world hangs on your answer.”

Dr. Chase gaped a little at being spoken to like that by someone who looked his young daughter's age.

“What do you need me to do…?” He asked, his eyes flickering around as if unsure if he should be flattered or very worried that they needed his help for this mythological world stuff.

“Do you have a car?”

Chapter Text

“You need my car?” Mr. Chase gaped, looking between the 11 to 14 year old kids in his office, all who have the eyes of a war torn veteran.

“We need to get to Mount Tamalpais, Dad,” Annabeth says, eyes worried as she tried to get out of here as quick as possible.

“None of you are old enough…” The man starts before he remembers how old Zoe actually is.

“Still,” He sighs, “I can’t let you do this all alone- At least let me drive you. We can take my Camel.”

“Whoa, you own an actual biplane?” Percy blinks and grunts when Annabeth elbows him  in the side.

“Look, Sir,” Thalia started, cringing from the formal title which she was not used to using, “A car would be fine. It’d be better if we went alone…”

“Now, just a minute, young lady,” Mr. Chase started, looking uncomfortable at the idea of handing over his car to a kid he doesn’t even know, “I can’t in good conscience let you all take my daughter out there alone, dangerous or not.”

“Snacks!” Mrs. Chase called out as she walked in, holding a tray full of peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches and freshly baked cookies, plus cans of Coca Cola. Annabeth scowled, her frustration already building up and the last person she wanted to see was her dads wife. Thalia, Percy, and Nico practically inhaled the cookies while Zoe continued their conversation.

“I’ve been driving since it was invented, I can handle your car just fine.” Zoe said, drinking a can of coke with much more poise then the Big Three Kids were. They were mortal and hungry, sue them.

“What’s this about?” Mrs. Chase asks, her eyebrows knitted together in worry.

“They want to take my car to Mount Tam but even if it’s… no place for mortals,” Mr. Chase scowls a little, as if the words were hard for him to get out, “It’s still dangerous..”

“If you cared about that you wouldn’t have moved to this gods forsaken place at all!” Annabeth snaps, standing up from her chair. She had reached her limit with all this, leaving the house with a scowl on her face. Dr. Chase winces as his daughter slams the door behind her and his wife yells out to her to not slam doors.

“So uhm… yes.. no..?” Nico asks, trying to gauge Dr. Chase’ answer to the whole car question.

“If it’s really that important, they better get going..” Mrs. Chase sighs, though, Nico got the feeling she just wanted them out of her house.

“Right! The keys,” Dr. Chase jumps up from his seat, as if his wife’s approval was all he needed for his decision, and his hands shuffle through his pockets. Zoe grabbed the keys with one hand and the sandwich with the other.

“Thank you both. Let's get out of here,” She said, biting the sandwich as the rest of the group followed her out of the house, including the Chases. Annabeth was leaning against the car with her arms crossed, having waited for them to get the keys one way or the other.

“Be safe!” Dr. Chase called out from the doorway, still looking worried. The group got into the yellow VW convertible parked in the driveway, the sun already going down in the horizon. Making it only an hour until they got to Artemis.

“Can’t this thing go any faster?” Thalia growled.

“I cannot control traffic!” Zoe glared at the daughter of Zeus, who was in the passenger seat.

“You both sound like my mother,” Percy quipped, which earned him glares from the two girls in front. Zoe weaved through traffic like a madwoman, with all the confidence of a woman who’s been driving since it was invented. She also drove like an immortal who knew they would not die from a crash, so many speeding laws were being broken. When they finally got into Marin Country, exiting the highway, Zoe didn’t slow down as she sped through narrow roads and cliffs near steep ravines.

“Does anyone else smell mints?” Bianca asked, eyebrows furrowed.

“Eucalyptus,” Answered Zoe, her eyes trained on the road, “We’re getting close.”

Looming over them, getting closer and closer, was Mount Tam. All in all, it looked like any old mountain. Nico had seen plenty in his time traveling all around the United States, either because he was running from something or because he was bored. Still, as they got closer, he could feel deep in his stomach that something was different about it. It felt like it should have thundering clouds and a barren landscape, not the lush flora that he could see from here.

“The Mountain of Despair…” Annabeth said, her voice half filled with awe as she took in the sight. Despite it’s relatively small size, for a mountain, the air around it made it feel plenty big.

“Why do they call it that..?” Bianca asked, looking a little nervous for the answer.

“After the Titan war, many of the Titans were punished and imprisoned,” Zoe started, her eyes fixed on the road with a hard look in her eyes, “The Time Titan Kronos was sliced to pieces and thrown into the deepest pits of Hades. Krono’s right-hand man, the general of his forces, was imprisoned up there- on the summit, just beyond the Garden of the Hesperides.”

“We have to be careful,” Thalia said, “The Mist is really strong here…”

They drove out of the forest into a wide open space. Over the cliff and under them was the vast ocean where Percy caught something.

“Look!” He said, pointing down to the waters but by then they had turned and the ocean disappeared behind the hills.

“What is it?” Bianca asked, look to where he had pointed.

“A big white ship,” Percy started, “Docked near the beach. It looked like a cruise ship.”

“Luke’s ship?” Annabeth said, voice conflicted like she didn’t know whether to be angry or hopeful. Nico’s eyes narrowed, sighing through his nose. It must have been odd for the others, seeing his eyes harden at the mention of Luke when to their knowledge, they had never even met before. But Nico wasn’t thinking about that. He was thinking about the hundreds and thousands of monsters and demigods under Krono’s thumb. The others never referred to them as “Kronos’ army” so he can assume they weren’t at that level of power just yet, but he knew it was coming soon.

Year after year, Luke stops being one man but rather the head of a cause.

He could see them now…

Hundreds and thousands.. Their hateful eyes and determined battle cries....

“Nico?” Zoe’s voiced snapped him out of the images he had see. He hadn’t even noticed it, but the others in the car definitely did. The way Nico glared out the window, his eyes going grey.

“Sorry,” Nico huffs, running his hand down his face, “It’s fine.”

The immortal noticed how Nico didn’t say he was fine, specifically, but she didn’t comment. Instead, she turned her attention back to the mountain looming above them , growing bigger and bigger as they drove closer.

Suddenly, the hair on the back of Nico’s neck stood on end. Something deep in his blood, instinctual, screamed.

“Stop the car!” Thalia yelled, grabbing onto the back of the drivers seat, “NOW!”

Zoe’s grip on the steering tightened, as if sensing the danger, and slammed on the brakes. Nico held onto whatever he could get his hands on, bracing his feet on the floor to stay as still as possible. The yellow VW spun around twice before coming to a rough stop on the edge of the cliff.

“Out!” Thalia yelled, reaching over Percy to open the door before pushing Percy out. Everyone scrambled out of the car as quick as they could. Nico had been on the passenger seat, the side that faced the cliff, meaning he couldn’t get to safety as quick as the others. Out of instinct, Nico jumped into the nearest shadow-  his own.

Next thing he knew, he was surrounded by trees, completely collapsed onto the grass. Despite the dirt and wet grass that scratched at his cheek, he was glad he was on his stomach.

Because his back and legs… really, really burned.

Bianca dropped to the floor when she saw the strike of lightning coming down , instinctively putting her hands over her head to protect it. Though she immediately wished she had covered her ears instead, because the roar of thunder that followed the strike made her ears ring. She pushed herself up from the ground, pushing through the slight dizziness in her sight to take in the situation. In front of her, Thalia was shielding Annabeth and Percy with Aegis. She had been closest to the two of them, the daughter of Zeus just wasn’t quick enough to get them all.

The strike of lightening took her to a far away time. A time where her hands had never held a weapon, one where her shoulders were free of responsibility.

Nico was in front of her, despite being the same age as always, still eleven, he looked younger somehow. That light that was taken when he had awoken from that fateful night was still there. Gone was the boy who had aged years in one night. Now, he was just as she remembered. The boy grinned widely and booked it around the room. This time, Bianca did not find it annoying. No, instead she booked it after him. The two laughed and laughed as Bianca slowed herself down to not catch up to Nico too quickly. She did not feel like an older sister here. Now she was just like every other child.

Between the laughing, she heard voices. Instinctually she knew that those voices were her parents. Bianca did not pay their words any mind, too busy exploring the shiny new hotel their parents took them to.

“- In the land of the dead? I will not-“

“-Not safe-“

“- Surely-“

“- We will stay together-“

“- Gave me a deadline of one week-“

“- You are a god, my love. You will protect us-“

“- I know a place in the desert where time stands still-“

“- Nico and Bianca need their mother-“

There was a flash of light.

“- NO-!”

The ringing of thunder in Bianca’s head faded as she pushed herself up and she looked back at the wreckage. The car was blown to bits, some of the dirt and grass around it had holes in it as if the lightening branched off to hit more than just the car. What was left of the yellow car (a Volkswagen, she remembered Dr. Chase calling it) was up in this huge flame, that had smoke going up for miles.

Meanwhile, Zoe was taking in the group, surveying for anymore threats. It looked like the lightening was their only worry, for now…

“One shall perish by a parent’s hand,” Thalia muttered, gritting her teeth, her eyes ablaze by the light of the fire, “Curse him! He would destroy me? Me?!”

“Would your father really..?” Bianca blinked. If Thalia’s father sent that bolt, then what did that mean for her and Nico, who’s father left them to have their lives drained away for years on end?

“He has done worse,” Thalia stood up and threw her shield to the ground, as if she couldn’t bear to hold her father’s gifts in her hand after this.

“That could’ve been anyone’s bolt,” Annabeth send, also standing up.

“Don’t be naïve, Annabeth, whose if not his?” Thalia demands.

“Silence!” Zoe said, a steely look in her eye. Half caution and half… grief.

Bianca took in the sight of everyone again, holding her arm, which she had fell on in her rush to get out of the car.

“Zoe…” Bianca looked straight in her idol’s eyes, “Where is my brother?”

Silence was her answer. The groups anger faded from anger to worry as they looked around for the little son of Hades but he was nowhere to be found.

“Fuck.” Thalia curses in  a whisper, running a hand through her hair and gripping it at its roots, “Fuck fuck fuck.”

Bianca’s bow hung loosely in her grip. She had summoned it when they were forced out of the car, holding it like a toddler with a plushie. It did not bring much comfort now.

“Everyone, just- just stop,” Bianca says, her eyes closing as she holds back emotions of grief because she knows, deep in her heart, that Nico is still alive. She can not bare to see the pitying looks she knows she’s receiving right now.

Nico laid there on the grass for a few seconds, trying to calm down his heart and be rid of the way his vision spun.

His breaths came out, they’d make clouds in the cold air. The weather bit at the burning that traveled from his back down to the back of his legs. Nico’s fists clenched at the wet grass, taking a breath of courage.

“Ok, Nico, you got this…” He panted before using all the strength in his tired, young body to get up. He managed to push himself up into a sit before his body failed him and he had to catch himself so he didn’t face plant on the dirt. He wanted so badly to lay down but he knew that it would be a terrible idea with his injuries. He didn’t even know the full scale of his injuries because he couldn’t see his back. So instead, he half laid on his side, taking big, slow breaths.

Every time he moved, his burning skin would stretch and he could feel his clothes sticking to his wounds. He should probably take them off but it was so freezing out that he didn’t know whether that’d be a good idea or not. For all his first aid knowledge, he knew he should take it off but a human part of him didn’t want to. Funny, the way knowledge on what’s bad for you doesn’t make you want to avoid it anymore than before.

“Fuck, I’m tired.” Nico huffs out before getting up to his feet. He tilted his head up to be meet with a clear blue. He looked every which way until he spotted the heavy smoke raising into the air. He took a slow breath and started heading towards the smoke. Every step hurt because his burns went to the back of his knees. Every bend hurt. He had to stop to balance himself on every other tree he came across.

From the size of the smoke, and the fact that he was in the forest they had already driven out of, he was a ways away from the car incident.

“You survived much more than this, Nico,” Nico whispers to himself, his arm wrapping around his waist. The burn of his wounds now are nothing compared to the burn of the River of Fire.

He pushed through, his back and legs stinging all the while. Nico coughed as the smoke got closer, breaking through the forest and into the clearing they had crashed in. The group was still there, just standing around. Thalia looked pissed beyond belief though all her scowling didn’t hide the tears welling up in her eyes.

Bianca was staring down at the ground, looking more lost than he’d ever seen. Zoe was by  her side, hand on her shoulder and whispering something soft that Bianca clearly didn’t her given her lack of reaction.

“Are you guys alright?” Nico asked once he was close enough, putting his weight against a tree so he could actually rest for a few seconds.

Before he could ask if anyone had any ambrosia he was being crushed in the arms of his sister.

“Ah- Bianca!” Nico hissed in pain but his older sister did not let go.

“I knew you were alright,” Bianca said into his hair, relieved beyond belief.

“I knew you weren’t dead. I would have felt it,” She said, holding him a little tighter. Nico felt a flood of sympathy for her at that moment and hugged her back. He remembered the nightmares he had gotten the day she died, unable to explain to others that he just knew deep in his bones that his sister was dead. Like she couldn’t explain that her brother was alive.

From behind her came the rest of his friends, each looking worse for wear.

“You scared the life out of us!” Thalia scowls but the effect was ruined by her eyes that were red from tears. It was one thing for her father to kill her, but to try and kill all her friends too? How could she have lived with herself if Nico never came out of those woods?

“How’d you even-? Was it that same teleportation thing you used at the museum?” Annabeth questions, his voice filled with curiosity and relief.

“Damn Zeus! How could he?” Percy glares up at the skies that went from clear to cloudy and thunderous in the time it took Nico to come back to them.

“Mind thou mouth, fool!” Zoe hisses at Percy, “You will get us all killed!”

“Zeus wouldn’t- they’re our parents up there… they wouldn’t, would they?” Annabeth runs a hand through her hair, eyes like she was running through every possible reason or plan that could justify what happened.

“I’m sorry I scared you, Everyone,” Nico says, “but please, back up, my back and head are  killing me.”

Bianca pulls back in shock, taking in the sight of his rugged form. He tries to smile but it was more of a grimace of pain. Zoe forcefully turned Nico around, stripping him of his jacket and shirt, hissing at the sight of his back. It was marred, but not in the sense he was caught in an explosion. Instead…

“Lightning,” Zoe huffs, her nose wrinkled in distaste, “The strike must have broken apart from the car and tagged you…”

Thalia tsked and turned away from the sight, her anger bubbling inside her.

“That bad, huh?” Nico chuckles though there was little humor in it.

“It’s like someone carved a lightning pattern into your skin with a hot poker stick,” Percy murmurs, trying not to sound as angry as he felt.

“Comforting,” Nico huffs a laugh.

“You need medicine, and quick. From what I can see, the wound goes from the back of your neck and expands down to your calves,” Zoe starts, urging him to lay down on the dirt as she examines his wounds with a determined look on her face.

“We don’t have medicine, all our bags were in the car…” Annabeth sighs. For all the planning, something always seems to go wrong.

“You can’t go on with these injuries, Nico,” Bianca says and continues before he can protest, “You can barely walk and god knows what we will encounter after this.”

“But there is nowhere to go for him, except forward,” Zoe sighs. She regrets the decision but she has lived for hundreds of thousands of years, she knows all about tough decisions.

“What? You can’t be thinking about bringing him with us- in the state he’s in?” Bianca demands, voice coated with disbelief.

“I know it isn’t smart- damn it, it is plain stupid,” Zoe says, looking frustrated with herself, “But it is the only option he has. He is no shape to use that teleportation power of his.”

“Then can’t he just- I don’t know- pray for some help? For health? His god would grant it,” Percy says, seriously not knowing what to do.

“No…” Nico weakly shook his head, “he’s done enough for me.”

Nico knew ‘his’ god. He knew Apollo would heal him in a heart beat, maybe in some glow-y way to show off. He could feel the sun blearing done now, making it clear the god was watching. Still, he will do nothing if Nico does not ask him of it. They’re on thin ice as it is, he would imagine. Zeus is not the most patient of men these days.

No, he couldn’t risk his friend more than he already has.

And maybe, just maybe, he didn’t want to see the chaos the god would make like last time.

“And we can not leave him here. We may not come back to get him.” Zoe says, words cutting and tone even. After all, she knows her own fate at the end of this quest but who’s to say about everyone else’?

Nico sighs, a blush of humiliation coming up to his cheeks. Damn this body, making him such an inconvenience. Would it be better to just train for a while before inserting himself into these quests? But that would take years… and he was never the type to sit around when he could lend a helping hand.

Suddenly, Annabeth hoists him up on her back. Nico panicked for moment, flapping his arms to stay balanced before wrapping his arms around her neck. Annabeth hasn’t the strongest of the group but she still put her all into holding him up.

“I don’t think this is a good idea…” Nico says, his mouth curled down into an uncomfortable wince.

“You weigh, like, a couple of apples,” Annabeth huffs.

“I take great offense to that.” The son of Hades deadpans.

“Be as offended as you like, let’s just keep moving,” Thalia says, pointing into the foggy forest as if it was any question where they were supposed to go. Of course, they’d have to go into the worst option around, that’s demigod life for you.

They stumbled their way through the sheets of fog that screamed ‘do not go through’, Knowing the mountain's tricks on the mortal mind. When they exited the fog, they were still on the side of the mountain, but there was a dirt road and the greenery was lush. The sun setting made the scenery look straight out of a picture, a nice backdrop for the end of their quest. The summit of the mountain was closer now, having storm clouds of power swirling at the very top. The dirt road led straight into a dark meadow, filled with flowers and a sky abruptly switched from the sunset to twilight.

If the place didn’t have such an oppressive feeling to it, Nico would have liked to be buried here.

Stepping stones of polished black marble circled around a five story tall tree, every branch packed with glittering apples of gold. The fruit admitted a fragrance that had his mouth watering. It was a temptation to eat what would surely be the best thing he’d ever tasted. The magic of it all made him scowl. Things that dangled greatness in front of you were the worst.

“The apples of immortality…” Thalia said, staring at the fruit with slight awe, “Hera’s wedding gift from Zeus.”

Curled around the tree, laid an enormous dragon that effectively stopped her from plucking one up from it’s branches. The things body was as thick as a booster rocket with glittering scales sharp enough to cut. It’s ‘head’ was an amalgamation of hundreds, too many head to count and all piled into a spaghetti-like mound. It looked to be sleeping.

In front of them, shadows began to move and morph into humanoid creatures. With it came this beautiful, eerie singing. The voices echoed, as if they were coming from the bottom of  a well.

The shadows cleared up, revealing four beautiful young women who all looked like Zoe. They had a caramel shade of skin, the exact same as Zoe’s. Their silky black hair was let loose, thick and reaching their knees. Their chitons were a pure white, too pure to be made by human hands. Despite their beauty, their eyes held cold distaste.

“Hesperides,” Annabeth whispered, though the words sounded like they escaped her rather than her meaning to say it.

In the corner of Nico’s eye, he saw Zoe stop Percy from pulling out his sword.

“Sisters.” Zoe greeted and if he had could waste any energy, Nico would have snapped his head towards her in his surprise.

“We do not see any sister.” One of the girls said coldly. She seemed to be the oldest, at least physically. You could never tell with immortal beings but she looked to be older then Zoe.

“Just four Half-bloods and two Hunters.” Another girl sneered.

“All of whom will die,” The older one spoke up again, her stance more like a cold queen then a girl.

“You’ve got it wrong, Nobody is going to die,” Percy said, taking a step towards the group of girls.

The girls eyes snapped towards Percy, their eyes like volcanic rock. Glassy and completely black.

“Perseus Jackson…” She sneered, her voice rolling Percy’s name like a snake coiling around their necks.

“He does not look like a threat…” Another girl murmured.

“Who said I was a threat?” Percy questioned.

“Them,” The older girl pointed up to the peek of the mountain, the one that was gaining more and more storm clouds by the minute, “They fear thee. They are…. Displeased the Daughter of Zeus has not yet killed thee.”

“Kill? Is that what those bastards think of me?” Thalia scowls. Mostly, the children of the big three have always started off on bad terms, there was something in their blood that just ignited when around one another. But they tried to push back this, to not be so hostile. They were not their parents. In that sense, they were better.

“Sure, it’s tempting  but that’s not who I am.” Thalia says, putting a heavy emphasis on her words, almost as if she is trying to convince herself of this.

“There are no friends here. Only enemies. Go back.” One Hesperide said, her tone blank, like she was bored of them already.

“Not without Lady Artemis,” Bianca narrowed her eyes at the group. Zoe’s family was full of jerks, she thought.

“He will kill thee.” The sister said, her eyes trained on Zoe, not acknowledging Bianca what so ever, “This is thy last warning. We only have to raise our voice and Ladon will wake.”

Zoe stared down her older sister. For moment, she seemed as young as she looked. Then, she barked loud, “Ladon! Wake!”

The Hesperide’s immediately went from ‘all knowing and way more important than you’ so scared girls in a second. They yelped and scattered faster then any forest nymph running from a loose satyr.

“Are you mad?!” The only one who stayed said, though she pressed herself back to a tree, hoping the shadows will shield her. She stared wide-eyed at the dragon, who gets up, her scales glittering like a mountain of pennies.

“You never had any courage, sister,” Zoe says, “That is thy problem.”

“Zoe, don’t- you’re not a Hesperid anymore,” Annabeth says, her hands tightening on Nico’s thighs, ready to bolt with him.

“Ladon is trained to guard the tree. We keep away from it, he will keep away from us,” Zoe says, eyes determined and already running in a random direction.

“She’s distracting him, lets go!” Annabeth says and, with Nico still gripping her tightly on her back, ran the opposite direction than Zoe went.

Ladon opened its mouth, its hundreds of heads hissing and biting all at once and each head had breath that smelled worse than death. It was an acidic stench that made the others recoil. Despite being used to the smell of death, even Nico wrinkled his noise at Ladon’s stench. Seems like all those eucalyptus were not doing the creature justice.

Annabeth and Nico were crouched behind a bush, every one else scattering in different directions.

Well, everyone but Zoe, who walked up straight to the monster.

“It’s me, my little dragon,” Zoe greets, a small smile on her face and her arms open as if going in for a hug, “Zoe has returned.”

Ladon shifted forward, all its heads actually looking happy to see her before remembering whose side she was on and taking a step back. Some heads hissed in their irritation, others warbled out a confused and conflicted sound.

The Hesperides shimmered, melting halfway into the shadows, watching was angry and scared eyes.

“I used to feed thee by hand,” Zoe continued, her eyes trained onto the dragon, soft with emotion, “Do you still like lamb’s meat?”

The dragon took a small step forward, eyes glinting with emotion but whether it was happiness or hunger, Nico couldn’t tell.

With the monster distracted, Annabeth took the opportunity to run to a farther bush. Feeling like a little kid, Nico held on tight. She was halfway around the garden and a look across the field told them that the same was for Thalia and Percy. Up ahead, there was a rocky trail that lead up to the black peak of the mountain. The storm swirled above it, spinning on the summit like it was the axis for the whole world.

They had almost made it out of the meadow until something happened. Whether that was because Zoe got too close, or maybe the dragon realized it was hungry, it lunged at Zoe.

Her thousand of years of training kept her alive. She dodged one set of claws and rolled under another. She weaved and dodged through the dragons heads, gagging at its breath.

“No!” Zoe panted, “Run!”

Nico was confused as to what she was talking about until he saw across the way that Bianca had drawn her bow.

The dragons teeth slashed her side and Zoe cried out. Next to Percy, Thalia snapped open Aegis. At the sight of the shield’s hideous face, the dragon hissed, half in fear and half in anger. Seeing her chance, Zoe sprinted past them to the mountain. The rest of us ran after her.

The monster did not pursue, instead hissing and stomping the ground like a toddler. Well trained to guard the tree, it is not lured out by the prospect of eating some tasty heroes. The ran up the mountain and behind them in the shadows, the Hesperides started up another song. Nico had lead many funerals in his existence, he could recognize a song of mourning from a mile away.

Nico sent a glare towards where he felt the Hesperides were. The sound of the girls yelping as their shadows nipped at them faded behind them.

The top of the mountain were in ruins, crumbled blocks of black granite and marble as big as houses. Broken columns and statues of bronze that looked half melted.

“Mount Othrys…” Annabeth whispered in awe, Thalia right beside her, taking the destroyed place in.

“Yes..” Zoe says though she looked more unsettled than in awe, “It was not here before… This is bad.”

“Not here before? How could all of this just appear?” Bianca asked, eyebrows furrowed.

Zoe shakes her head, “Ignore me. It has been hundreds of years since I’ve been here last. I had preferred not to think about it-“

She winced and held her side, unable to ignore it completely any longer.

“You’re hurt,” Percy’s eyes widened, “Let me see.”

“No! No, it is nothing,” Zoe took a breath through her teeth before straightening up, ignoring the pain once more, but holding her torn side.

“A dragon’s bite to your torso. We’re lucky he only scratched you. Any closer and you’d has been disemboweled.” Nico said tiredly, resting the side of his head on Annabeth’s.

“Not helping, Nico,” Bianca huffed but Zoe only nodded, not one to stray from such things.

“We will continue,” Zoe says and a sharp glare silenced any arguments. Each of them knew stubbornness when they see it, being so stubborn themselves.

The group had reached the summit. A few yards ahead, there were grey clouds that lit up with lightening every split second. Nico shivered at the sound of them, his back burning hotter. The clouds made a funnel, a heavy vortex that would have reached the mountain top. Instead, it rested on the shoulders of a twelve year old girl.

Nico could recognize that shine of the girls chains anywhere. Celestial Bronze, the shine was something completely inhuman that made it stand out from the rest.

Artemis looked worse off then she did in his vision. Her silver dress was tattered, but from what, he didn’t know. Holding up the sky alone would not have ruined her clothes. Had she been tortured as she held up the sky?

“My Lady!” Zoe rushed over, but Artemis ordered her to stay.

“It’s a trap! You must leave now.” Artemis says through gritted teeth. Despite being a goddess, holding the sky was no easy fit. Especially since she was far younger than Atlas. Despite her goddess’ words, Zoe rushed over anyway, with tears in her eyes. The Hunter looked young as she tugged on the goddess’ chains helplessly. Next to Artemis, they almost seemed like sisters.

Bianca took a step forward but stopped. She looked conflicted, wondering whether or not she should disobey her goddess. She wondered if she could, if she was allowed as Zoe is.

“How touching.” A voice said from behind them.

Annabeth’s hold on Nico tightened as they turned around to face the voice. The sight made her gasp.

There stood The General. He stood at 6’7 feet tall, wearing a brown silk suit and a arrogant expression. Surrounding him  was half a dozen dracaenae bearing golden sarcophagus of Kronos. But none of that was what Annabeth was staring at.

Next to the Titan, was a very weak looking Luke with a sword to his neck. The sword shined with silver and Celestial Bronze, Luke’s own sword, Backbiter. The demigod had sweat dripping down his pale face, his hands tied behind his back.

Luke looked scared… but Nico had seen true fear. Caused it just by looking someone’s way. That’s why he tightened his hold on Annabeth when she unconsciously took a step forward.

“Don’t,” Nico said lowly, his glare never leaving Luke’s lying face.

“What is this?” Thalia scowled, having the sense to pull out her spear in preparation.

“I’m surrounded by traitors.” The General huffs, glaring at Zoe but tightening his grip on Luke’s hair at the same time.

Zoe aimed her bow at him, next to her Bianca did the same.

“Thalia, please,” Luke started, his voice wavering. Pale and weak, with dark circles like he had not seen a good night’s sleep in a month. The daughter of Zeus only narrowed her gaze, her weapons out and ready.

“Come, Daughter of Zeus. Turn yourself in and your lover boy lives,” The General says, pushing his sword closer to Luke’s throat. The movement had Thalia’s jaw tighten but underneath all her suspicion, was indecisiveness. Could she really do this? For Luke? Her Luke?

“My lover boy is dead.” Thalia said, her gaze hardening. She will not kill her friends and family of today for the Luke of the past. The man she loved was long gone, even if it still pained her to voice those thoughts out loud.

Annabeth, however smart she is, did not have the maturity Thalia had with age. Her head snapped towards Thalia, shock written all over her face. She had grown up watching Thalia and Luke share a bond she had never seen before. She had never seen grown ups be in love, what with her mother in a whole different world from her father. She learned what familial love was through Thalia and Luke, who were more like parents to her than her actual parents. To see Thalia reject Luke so easily…. The daughter of Zeus had a strength in her Annabeth couldn’t match. Not yet.

The General, however, laughs at Thalia’s words. Luke actually seemed a little hurt before it was covered by his false concern for his life.

“So much for old friends..” Atlas smirks and lets Luke go, “And you, Zoe, my little traitor. I will enjoy killing you.”

Luke stood tall like nothing happened, rubbing his wrists where the ropes used to be. Annabeth looked betrayed all over again when the trick was revealed. She felt like she should have been able to see through Luke, after already knowing how tricky the man could be. As smart as she is, her heart always seems to get in the way.

“That was harsh, Thals,” The son of Hermes hums with his lips quirked up in an arrogant smirk, “Here I thought we had something,” his smirk turns into a scowl full of distaste.

“Don’t.” Artemis groaned, though no one in the group took their eyes away from the Titan, “Do not challenge him. Just go.”

“Wait, you’re Atlas?” Percy asked. The General only glanced at him, almost like he was bored of Percy already.

“It seems even the stupidest of heroes can catch up,” Atlas huffed an arrogant laugh,” Yes, I am Atlas, the general of the Titans and terror of the gods. Dying by my hand is honorable, congratulations. First, I take the life of my wretched spawn.”

“Spawn?” Bianca questioned, eyebrows furrowed in half confusion and half disgust of the disrespectful descriptor.

“Yes,” Zoe said though her voice was bleak as if she would rather say anything other than her next words, “Atlas is my father.”

Nico could see the family resemblance, as much as Zoe would hate to hear that. They had the same regal expression Zoe shared with her sisters, proud and cold like they would start a war if they preserved an insult towards them. All things that raised Thalia and Percy’s hackles when they first met her.

“Enough of this, let Artemis go.” She scowled, growing tired of the back and forth.

“Unfortunately, I can’t do that,” The General hums, casually walking over to the chained up goddess, “Unless… you take it up for her.”

“Do not!” Artemis yelled. The immortal goddess never looked so young and helpless, yelling and yelling with not one person truly hearing her words. Maybe that is why she was trying so hard, crying out to them. This group of heroes, they would take up the sky for her. In her helplessness, she could only watch.

Atlas must have taken great pleasure in the sight, for he knelt down next to the goddess with a smirk. He tried to cup her face but she bit his hand, almost taking off his fingers with her wolf like ferality.

“Goddess of the Wild, indeed” Atlas chuckled before turning back to their group, “See, daughter? Lady Artemis likes her new job. When Kronos rules once again, I think I will have all the Olympians take turns carrying my burden. It will teach those weaklings some humility…”

“I don’t understand.. why can’t Artemis let go of the sky?” Percy asks.

“The sky longs to embrace the earth,” Nico answers, “Ouranos and Gaia.. their embrace would crush us all. Keeping them apart was Atlas’ burden…for those lower than a Titan, it is a fate that needs to be chosen.”

“Ah, son of Hades…” Atlas starts, eyeing his glowing gold earrings, “To think, a child of the low and the dark would be shielded by the light. Heros these days show great promise. Still, you and your sister are too young to be a challenge. Kronos is eager to take back his throne soon.”

“Though...” The Titan turns his attention to Thalia and Percy, “the older ones are not much of a challenge either.”

“Fight us and let’s see,” Percy tells him, like a crazy a person, readying his sword.

“Have the Gods taught you nothing? An immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath us.” Atlas says, waving Percy off. He had the posture of a man who had everything under control.

“So you’re another coward,” The son of Poseidon scowls. Atlas’ eyes went quick from calm to pure hatred, as if him being undisturbed was just an act he was hiding away behind. It looked like it took everything in him to tear his eyes away from Percy, instead meeting the gaze of Thalia.

“As for you, Daughter of Zeus, it seems Luke was wrong about you.”

“I wasn’t wrong about anything,” Luke managed, speaking every word as if it pained him to say anything at all, “You can still join us, Thalia. Join me. You, me, and Annabeth, we’ll be a family again… Just call the Ophiotaurus, it’ll come to you. Look!”

He waved his hand and a pool of water appeared next to us. A pool ringed with black marble, big enough to hold Ophiotaurus.

“How did…” Nico whispers, eyebrows furrowed, wondering how Luke had the power to summon anything at all. Does Kronos have his claws in him as deep as he remembered? Even now?

He could almost hear the mooing of that damned cow.

“Everyone, don’t think about Bessie!” Percy yelled and Nico wiped all thoughts of the creature from his thoughts. As did everyone else by the looks of things.

“Thalia, don’t listen to him. You just need to think of it, call on it, and you will be more powerful than the gods.” Luke insisted and if Thalia were a lesser girl, she would have been convinced by just the furrow of his eyebrows alone.

“Damn it, Luke,” Thalia cursed, her voice full of pain, “How could you? After everything?”

“Don’t you remember all those times we talked? All those times we cured the gods-?”

“I’m not talking about the gods!” She interrupted him, “I’m talking about you! Look at you! Weak and talking nonsense about power? You want to protect us and then bring a war to our doorstep? You were so quick to try and trick me into your side, what else- who else- are you willing to sacrifice for this?”

“Please, Thalia,” Luke sighs, almost pleading, “This is my last chance. You have to join me, or else he…”

“He? Kronos?” Annabeth questioned, “What is he planning?”

Luke just shook his head, unwilling to answer.

“We are not weak, girls.” He gestured to the ocean and Nico’s breath hitched. Marching up the side of the mountain, from the beach where the Princess Andromeda was docked, was a great army. Dracaenae, Laestrygonians, monsters and halfbloods.. more and more, and they all looked armored to the teeth. They were all heading towards them.

“That’s only the start. More will join us, ready to storm Camp Half-Blood. After that, Olympus itself. All we need is your help.”

“No, Luke.” Thalia started, shaking her head as if to shake whatever empathy she had for Luke away even when she so badly wanted to believe him, “I’m done covering for you.”

“Now,” Percy said. With his words, he, Thalia, and Zoe charged.