φωνή

voice

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The voices were all that Nico di Angelo could hear.

Whatever rare, quiet moment that the boy managed to find was ruined by the pleading voices begging for life. They followed him no matter where he went. They infiltrated his dark dreams and darker nightmares.

"Save him."

Nico clenched his hands into fists, pressing a pillow against his face as he tried to fall asleep.

"I can't save anyone," he muttered to the darkness, guilt turning violently in his stomach.

"Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come —"

Then silence. No matter how much Nico hated the voices, the abrupt silence was always worse. But the silences never lasted long; already a dozen more voices had occupied the space the recently dead voice had fallen from.

Nico listened to them each for a second before giving up. None of them belonged to Will, who was still missing two days after his panic date. Everyone else seemed to have given up on the idea of him returning, but Nico couldn't surrender that hope. Not yet, anyways.

The return of Thalia Grace had sent everyone into a frenzy. The war-driven survival base that was Olympus had somehow turned into a hopeful sanctuary. All because Thalia returned. Even Reyna, the steady, level-headed warrior that had become like a second sister to Nico, had turned into a hopeful, blushing girl at the mere sight of Thalia.

But Nico was skeptical. He had heard what Artemis said to Thalia before the goddess disappeared on a Hunt. "You've served as my faithful lieutenant for many prosperous years. But you are the last one, ever."

Something about Thalia brought destruction. And after so much in his life had been destroyed, Nico wanted to keep her as far away from Olympus as possible.

"This is going to end well."

A new voice. This one louder, clearer in the way that only familiar people could be. Nico felt for the connection, for the source of the voice.

To him, they looked like strings. With his eyes closed and all senses dulled, the voices in his mind appeared to be strings. Some of them tangled together, others limp and broken. But they each had a color and they each had a voice. Over the years, Nico had mastered the art of identifying the strings.

There. The string was long and dark and branched off to connect with four other strings. Nico hesitated before reaching out to grab the dark string; one of the strings it was connected to was a gray-blue that was severely frayed.

"Well," the voice said, emitted from the string. "There are worse ways to die."

Nico grabbed the string.

And he opened his eyes to hellhounds pouncing on top of him. Nico couldn't help himself; he screamed.

"Holy shit," he muttered.

"Who are you?" the voice demanded.

Nico felt somewhat nauseated as he took in his surroundings. Whenever he touched a string, he always saw through the voice's eyes. There was a hellhound on top of them, its teeth bared.

Somewhere on a bed thousands of miles away from the hellhounds, Nico di Angelo smiled in his sleep.

"Hello," Nico spoke using the voice's body. "I think it's time for you to go to sleep."

He touched the hellhound's muzzle, and the large dog immediately fell unconscious. The remaining hellhounds stared, almost appearing to be confused.

But there were harpies flying above the hellhounds, their cries piercing the air. Nico frowned.

"Take care of them for me, please," he said to the hellhounds. They growled deeply back at him before pouncing upwards, tearing the harpies apart.

"What in Hera's name is happening?" the voice demanded, sounding more confused than alarmed.

"I just saved your life," responded Nico, sinking back into his own subconscious mind.

"You possessed me," the voice retorted. "Who sent you?"

"No one sends me anywhere. You were dying, so I saved your life. Feel free to thank me at anytime."

The voice grumbled something back to Nico, but he wasn't listening. He touched the string gently.

The voice belonged to a demigod named Cameron Skyes. He was an experienced warrior. The monsters were sent by Gaia to find Annabeth-

Nico's heart stopped. "Annabeth? Annabeth Chase?"

"What?" the voice, Cameron, asked. "What about her?"

"You're the one who found Annabeth. Oh my gods, is she alright? Is she alive? Where is she?"

"She should be. I told Chris to take her and Clarisse and Drew away from here. Who are you?"

Nico laughed, the noise one of pure relief. Annabeth was alright. Not only alive, but Nico now knew who had her and where they were. But, as usual, his happiness didn't last long.

"Where exactly are we?" Nico asked, searching for his answer as he traced a finger down Cameron's dark string.

"I'm not answering any of your questions until you answer mine," said Cameron stubbornly. "Who are you?"

"My name is Nico di Angelo."

"Nico? You're still alive? I mean, I never really met you, but I didn't know you could possess people."

"I didn't possess you, I saved your life. There's a difference. Where's Annabeth now?"

"Why should I tell you anything? I didn't see you or the Seven searching for her. It was me."

Nico rolled his eyes internally, wishing he was in his body so he could slap Cameron across the face. "You think we didn't try? We've been searching for as many leads as we could. But we've also been trying to find Percy Jackson and the gods, and save the world from extinction. We've been busy. But I just saved your life, which I didn't have to do, so you owe me, Cameron Skyes."

"How do you know my name?"

"You're having a conversation with a voice inside your head and that's the part you're worried about?"

"You guys still don't know where Percy Jackson is?" asked Cameron, clearly ignoring Nico.

"Like I said, we've been busy."

But at this point, there were no excuses. It had been years with no sign of Percy; not even Thalia had found him during her years of searching. Even the strongest demigods had to die. And even if it hadn't been a monster that killed him, it was possible that the loss of Annabeth had driven Percy to suicide.

"Tell me where you all are," said Nico, "and I'll send someone to find you."

"Whoever you send better be fast. Because more monsters are coming, and you know She won't stop until Annabeth is dead."

"Don't worry, I'll send someone who'll be there in like half an hour. Just give me your location."

A tense silence followed, and it was filled with dozens of unanswered questions from both Nico and Cameron. But this wasn't the time for them, and Nico doubted that there ever would be.

"I love Annabeth," said Nico softly. "She's saved my life so many times, and —" And she saved Percy's life, too. And years ago, when that mattered to Nico more than anything, was a debt he had sworn on the River Styx to repay Annabeth Chase. "And I owe her," Nico finished weakly. "I owe her more than my life. So I'll send one of the best fighters I know to rescue you and Annabeth, and Chris, Clarisse, and Drew, of all people. But I need you to tell me where to find you."

Another silence. Then, "you'll have to give us a few days. Annabeth. . .she doesn't really remember anything, and she's still recovering. She wants Clarisse to train her. And I still have to meet up with them. So give us five days before sending your warrior."

"What do you mean Annabeth doesn't remember anything?" Nico demanded.

"She's had a rough few years. She's not the same Annabeth you remember. But she's alive."

"That's all that really matters. Okay, you have five days. Where will you be at the end of them?"

"Florida. Or what's left of it, at least. I'll get us as close to Miami as we can."

"I'll follow the strings," responded Nico.

"What?" asked Cameron's confused voice.

"Nothing. Be safe, Cameron Skyes. And protect Annabeth."

"I will," promised the voice. "You might want to focus on finding Percy Jackson."

"Why?"

"I have a feeling that the war isn't over yet. There are still pieces to play, and if we just found Annabeth, I think there's a chance you'll have better luck finding Percy now."

Nico shrugged. Stranger things had been true. "If you ever need me, just get into a near death experience and shout my name. I'll probably be able to find your string before you die."

"Probably?"

"Like, a three out of four chance. Miami, five days."

Nico released the string and woke up back inside his body, the darkness in his tent a comforting blankness. He allowed himself to just lay there for a few minutes, listening to the new voices that begged for life in his mind.

Nico couldn't save everybody. But there was a chance he could save one person who would end up saving them all.

He stood up, grabbing his sword as he walked out of his tent. Olympus was quieter at night, but never truly silent. There always seemed to be a tense murmur that occupied the air.

Nico slowed as he passed Reyna's tent, which was directly beside his. To his relief, he didn't hear Thalia's voice, or any other noise, inside.

He walked into the tent beside Reyna's, being careful to cover his eyes. "Is everyone decent?" he asked in a loud whisper.

"Nico? What time is it? What are you doing here?"

"Everyone's decent," grumbled another voice.

Relieved, Nico uncovered his eyes. He still wasn't used to the fact that his little sister slept in the same bed with an older boy. But he knew Frank Zhang wouldn't ever try anything.

"Good to see you, Frank," Nico said, careful not to look into his eyes. Frank blushed in the dim light, taking half a step away from Hazel.

"Hazel, I have a mission for you and Arion," Nico said without prologue.

Hazel frowned, her golden eyes shining in the night. "A mission? Shouldn't you tell the Heroes before coming to me?"

"Don't worry, I'm calling for a meeting first thing in the morning. But in five days, I need you to ride Arion to Miami in Florida."

"Why?" asked Frank, reaching out for Hazel's hand. She accepted it wordlessly, instinctively stepping closer towards him.

For the first time in a while, Nico had a genuine smile on his face. "Because that's where you'll find Annabeth Chase."

• • •

a special shoutout to HiddenAwayInMyTears for being so supportive of this book, and so sweet in general!