Despite Percy triumphing again, and his goal of bringing Annabeth home safely assured, there was a sense of melancholy as Jason thumbed to what should be the last chapter of the book.

Between Zoe and Bianca's death, and Thalia not even coming back to Camp, it didn't seem like a rousing Christmas after-party was going to be followed up.

He read the new chapter title out loud out of habit, then snapped his mouth shut and swallowed an uneasy, but steady sense of doom at what he'd just said.

Silence hung for a few tense seconds as they all tried not to glance at Nico, the obvious suspect.

"And here I was hoping it would be a hippopotamus," Alex happily broke the tension.

Percy gave a nervous laugh and corrected, "Chiron would never let me keep that in the stables," but he was most guilty of all about side eyeing Nico now. All his silly worries and fears about Thalia's true motives down here had always felt ridiculous no matter how often they occurred to him, but now he wondered if he'd been misplacing them.

The worst part was, if Nico really did blame him for Bianca's death and wanted revenge, he couldn't blame the kid! He blamed himself too!

If this was some multipurpose scheme for him being down here though, Nico had really missed his chance and was a laughable 'enemy.' The guy had done nothing to him at any point in time, even now he looked more likely to pass out he was so pale rather than stick that sword anywhere near him.

Then again, there had been that really awkward moment he thought Nico was going to stab him...

Jason finally started reading and Percy was grateful nobody was trying to linger on the context of it all this time. He really hoped he was wrong and maybe it was just some rabbit that decided it wanted to have vengeance against him.

I decided to make a call to my brother, Tyson, under the sea.

The smile that lit around the room always gave the soft, natural lighting an extra glow for a second. Making the destruction Percy had caused to the place look like thoughtful, homey decorations instead of something he was capable of doing.

...I told him of Bessie, he loved every detail of the cute baby cow serpent...

"It is a travesty you don't have pictures," Alex groaned as if in actual pain.

"I promise I'll introduce you someday," Percy said.

... "Yay!" Tyson said. "That means it was good! It saved your life!"

"Tyson still over here being the most sensible person in this one and he wasn't even in this one!" Jason busted out laughing with a very obvious look at Percy and Thalia, just begging them to argue.

They exchanged sheepish looks and knew they couldn't

..."Not ruined!" Tyson promised. "I will visit and fix it next summer."

Percy was grinning again as naturally as ever, without a care in the world. Nico wavered between heart-broken and offended like he was skipping rope. Even now, in the literal last chapter of this very important book on his life, one conversation with his brother made Percy forget he was supposed to be worried about him in any capacity?

"Look at that," Will murmured gently, "Percy obviously knows not too deep down you're no enemy of his."

Nico fiddled with his skull ring for a moment and wasn't sure if that made him feel better. It certainly didn't make him feel worse.

... I hadn't realized how much I missed having Tyson around.

"Calling it now whatever madness you have to deal with next summer goes smoother than this one," Magnus said with nothing but sympathy. Nobody had died on the last quest, not even Polyphemus. Hopefully Tyson had a magical touch to make sure that trend continued.

...I have made 2,741 magic swords," Tyson said proudly, showing me the newest blade.

Alex whooped like Christmas had come right on time for her. "Does each do something unique!"

"Don't know," Percy admitted with the same spot of jealousy he'd yet gotten to spend time in a forge. He'd get his mom to sign a permission slip and everything! "Tyson's going to be so badass at making stuff when he comes back though it's going to scare the pants off of anybody." His smile showed only a hint of the destructive guy they all knew he could be.

... all the cool things we could do together next summer,

"And yes, number one on his list was still to visit the flying ponies," Percy grinned. "Plus, he made some cyclops friends that tried to talk him into getting a tattoo, but he couldn't decide what, so I promised we'd go over some cool stuff for that."

"How old is Tyson again?" Magnus asked.

"I have no idea," Percy didn't seem very concerned about the answer, Tyson would always be his little brother.

..."Sally Jackson," I said. "Upper East Side, Manhattan."

Percy felt a little guilty, with the holiday still sort of on his mind, about his mom being all alone in that place. At least she'd brighten up plenty to know Annabeth was safe.

... laughing and holding hands with her friend Mr. Blowfish.

"Her friend," Will grinned at the stunned stupid look on Percy's face. "Yeah, they seem real friendly." Don't look at Nico, do not look at Nico you idiot.

"I see that writing assignment went rather well," Alex snickered. "She must really enjoy that class."

Percy even laughed along with them, just a little bit. The stray thought fluttered through his mind how nice it must be for his mom to be getting help with anything, even something as small as homework.

...I was so embarrassed, I made to cut the connection, but before I could, my mom saw me.

"Mom vision, it is a thing," Magnus said in a very gentle sort of tone, like he was soothing a frightened kitten. Or his own past memories being sprung up so violently.

Her eyes got wide. She let go of Mr. Blowfish's hand real quick.

Percy winced with guilt, replaying the quick snatch of her fingers back over and over. He shook his head slowly to chase it all away. It couldn't be guilt, maybe embarrassment of her own? He couldn't honestly imagine. He did know he wasn't worried. His mom could take care of herself, that was obvious already if this guy didn't work out.

... "Percy! Are you all right?"

They looked nothing alike, but the concern on her face was an exact replica of Dr. Chase's when he'd found out Annabeth was in trouble. Percy had already wished it a thousand times, but he did once more that Annabeth were here. Even if she never managed to get perfectly along with her father, at least she'd have some solid proof that he did care, and what was more, his mom did too without hesitation.

...She sighed with relief when she heard that Annabeth was safe.

"I swear she'd adopt every kid on the planet if she could get away with it," Alex said with fascination for hearing of this display so repeatedly. She'd only heard vague tales of a parent caring so explicitly.

"I knew you could do it!" she said. "I'm so proud."

The words sounded strange, lingering on Jason's lips, making his scar twitch around a bit. He was sure only in the most clouded parts of his mind someone, somewhere might have said that to him...but nobody like a parent to connect the feeling to.

..."Percy, I... Paul and I—" "Mom, are you happy?"

Thalia had to turn sharply away for a moment to hide her scowl that was on no one on in here. What kid thought to ask their parent that? In her experience, only the ones that were so used to seeing them unhappy.

Jason had asked Beryl that once, sitting in Thalia's lap and watching their mother instead of the cartoons as the overpowering stench of hairspray filled the room. Beryl only gave that kind of smile in front of a mirror, or when there was a camera around.

She hadn't answered though, just waved to them without looking back as she left.

..."Yes. I really am, Percy. Being around him makes me happy."

Nico gave the smallest sniff, only just heard under Jason's calm reading, and Will couldn't resist anymore and glanced over. Nico's eyes were far away, to many years ago.

Nico thinks Maria Di Angelo was happy, the lone, concrete scene he had of Zeus killing her seemed to suggest that, but would it have ever lasted? Had her fate been sealed just by being courted by Hades, let alone twice?

... maybe I should have been worried...like Hercules and Zoe, or Luke and Thalia.

Thalia jerked in surprise, her blue eyes flashed to him with anger crackling out for only a moment as she opened her mouth to deny the comparison.

Just as quickly, she closed her mouth and turned back towards the book. What was the point? Those feelings were nothing now but another drawer of bitter she'd rather never talk about again.

Percy reached overly cautiously, expecting her knife to plunge into his hand at any moment, but when he reached her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, she exhaled long and slow. He still pulled his hand back away just as carefully in case she changed her mind, but her shoulders went just a little bit more lax than moments ago as Jason kept going with his own jumble of mixed emotions about all of this.

...not to call him Mr. Blowfish?" she asked. "Well, maybe not to his face, anyway."

Alex got a good laugh out of that one. "I was just thinking what a strangely considerate child you are, but nah, you're just as much of a brat as the rest of us."

"Multilayered," he agreed with a mischievous twinkle. If he just happened to find a toy fish that resembled one and swear it had just been a quick impulse buy on his way home from school, it would be a good way to gauge his sense of humor too. Win win.

... Thalia had been right: my mom was pretty cool.

Thalia swept her hair back impressively and smirked, "you all really should just admit I'm always right. I've gotten Percy to admit it, multiple times! Nothing can stop me now!"

"I will find a way to deflate your air head if it's the last thing I do," Percy gave her a light shove that made her hair fall back into his usual spikey mess and Jason quickly kept reading before one of them tried to kill each other again.

... The Long Island Expressway was almost deserted.

Percy shivered and tucked his hands into his pockets for a moment. The cold, unmoving way New York had looked was normally peaceful to him, but for some reason it gave him the creeps. Must have just been how different Olympus was, all bustling and alive.

... long gone with Artemis and the rest of the Hunters on their next adventure.

"Jealous Percy," she grinned.

"Not even a little bit," he promised, taking a deep breath of that hint of strawberry air even in the dead of winter. "It felt good to be home."

They shared another grin to finally have that same sentiment, as Thalia had been getting comfortable in her own tent, testing out her new speed and strength with Phoebe, and laughing. Loudly. Without fear of having to look over her shoulder of a monster lurking about. Instead Artemis had been dueling out suggestions of what to start hunting first to best cripple Kronos's forces.

Chiron greeted us at the Big House with hot chocolate and toasted cheese sandwiches.

Percy's stomach rumbled so loudly Jason almost dropped the book in surprise. "What?" Percy looked longingly out of the room again.

"We can take a break any time you want Percy," Nico told him, trying to sound as off hand as possible.

It came out more brittle than it should, and Percy's odd frown at him proved that as he shook his head. Pinpricks of fear pressed in around Nico's system like his body was already checking to see which limbs he could live without. Maybe this time when he wished Percy dead and couldn't run off like a child, Percy would preemptively drop this whole place down on just him.

...the satyrs were all running around asking where the nearest espresso bar was.

Magnus didn't look quite as perturbed as usual at the next strange event happening, but still told, "I really hope you guys explain that, because it sounds a little bonkers even with context."

"Yeah, I'll get right on that," Percy tried to say like he really meant that.

"He did not," Will snorted, "and Chiron was very short with us for the next week waiting for the uptake of coffee orders to arrive." He had been a tad extra cranky that week too, Travis and Connor really hadn't deserved that nasty comment Will had given them about Nico vanishing right under their nose. He couldn't say he was in a better mood now about to hear how exactly that had happened.

...Beckendorf, Silena, the Stolls, and Clarisse back from her secrete scouting.

Thalia chuckled to herself, watching everybody but Nico and Will brighten at this turn of events. Clarisse would threaten to tie all of their guts together if she found out so many people were happy she was back in the story, but it really had been stranger to hear of her gone.

... like someone had attacked her with a pair of safety scissors.

It looked lighter too, for some strange reason, Percy realized. Like she'd taken the time to dye it since he'd last seen her but the roots had grown back.*

"I got news," she mumbled uneasily. "Bad news."

Alex made a disparaging sigh as she said, "Clarisse never even met Zoe and she's carrying on that tradition."

"She's never exactly started with the good news, I think they're just too alike," Thalia frowned uneasily. She really wasn't sure what that was about, and it made her nervous.

...with forced cheerfulness. "The important thing is you prevailed, and saved Annabeth!"

"The highlight of the quest to Chiron," Will said. He hadn't even really meant it to be of any sarcasm, but Nico noticed. Just the smallest, slightest tick of annoyance.

Will didn't want to make Percy or anyone else feel bad for his frustration Chiron hadn't even announced when Nico went missing that same day she'd come back. Of the few kids that had even been there that first time, all but him soon even seemed to remember he'd existed and laughed like Will was playing some kind of joke when he mentioned him later.

... I was only alive because so many people had helped me, like a random mortal girl.

Magnus was looking a little more turned around than usual as he looked from the book to Percy rapid fire. Percy looked just as confused as him why she'd come to mind. Magnus shook off his weariness fast enough though, Rachel had been in this room and there had been nothing of note between them like literally every time his cousin was mentioned. Aphrodite bubbled to mind, but he brushed that off as paranoia and Percy's reasoning made plenty of sense.

"Luke is alive," I said... "How do you know?" I tried not to feel annoyed by her interest.

"She really should have at least pretended not to care," Jason was grinning just for the annoyed look on Percy's face. "It would have been a great time to see her acting chops."

"They're terrible," Will answered anyways with a faint grin, "she always makes sure everybody knows how she's feeling." Especially when it involved Percy, he finished with a chuckle for himself.

... "get Luke to change his ways," which annoyed me even more.

Will bit back a sigh and softly shook his head. Was that so horrible for Percy to even consider? What if Annabeth had really done it, if Luke had tried to atone for everything before his death? Would Percy never forgive him even when Annabeth readily would? It was his right, of course, but it still made Will sad.

... he was really old, but he usually didn't look it.

"That guy has got to start sharing his nightly routine," Alex said just because she needed to hear someone laugh after a depressing sentence like that.

"He did, remember?" You could hear the smile in Nico's voice even if he wasn't readily showing it. "He wears curlers in his tail, apparently it shaves a few centuries off." He really was smiling at the end for such a funny, small detail. The little uptick of his lips was like a bit of winter sun breaking between snow flurries, Will noticed.**

"Hmm, yes, putting a pin in that one," Alex nodded along mock seriously.

... I still hope you are not the child of the prophecy, Percy.

"Why?" Magnus looked dumbfounded. "Sounds to me like there's no better option, considering Percy's oh so dangerous flaw is wanting to save everyone! Um, no offense Nico," he added sheepishly, having no idea if he stepped on his toes and he actually was.

Nico gave an indifferent shrug. He really had no confidence if he was the great prophecy child if he would have done any good saving the world. Hell, he'd been actively trying and got himself trapped down here, clearly the Fates themselves were against him ever doing anything meaningful. His existence just seemed to be a punching bag for everyone else.

...Kronos's first strike will be here." ... "Why would he care about camp?"

"Hit them were it hurts?" But Magnus didn't sound to sure about that. Exactly how much did the gods care about their kids? The answer seemed to vary per god and child. Did Athena only claim her kids because it was the smart, strategic thing to do rather than letting them fester bad feelings instead of just, doing the most basic of communication? Did Ares only claim his kids because familial bonds were the hardest and most difficult to fight a war against?

"Because the gods use heroes as their tools," Chiron said simply.

"On some level it's nice to hear him be so cavalier about that," Jason said in surprise. He got a lot of mildly offended and skeptical looks for it same as Chiron had, but Jason found it almost a comfort, like somebody had draped a blanket over his shoulders. The blunt statement, that the gods did need them, but at a distance, a tool to manufacture for the better. That sounded like the first thing he agreed with on how these gods should function.

...Luke's forces will come here. Mortal, demigod, monstrous. We must be prepared.

Percy let out a shuddering breath as he rubbed the back of his head, a pain already lodged in place to explode out and cause misery the second he connected one single dot. Chiron might as well have over taken the Oracle for a moment. What he feared had come to pass, and Percy's deep well of unease over just the mention of it left him very little doubt this first wave of battle had caused more deaths to his friends.

... Nico came huffing into the parlor, his cheeks bright red from the cold.

Nico couldn't remember what kid it was anymore who mentioned Connor and Travis were at the Big House for a meeting, and that could only mean one thing. He couldn't remember what he was doing anymore right before it happened. Probably playing in the icy mud or something like a stupid toddler.

He remembered the run up there. Expecting to see his sister smiling, and telling him the coolest story and finally playing even the smallest part in his Mythomagic game.

He remembered with perfect clarity. His eyes sweeping the foyer, feeling his heart leap in joy to see Percy, and then confusion. Was she hiding behind the sofa to surprise him? She'd never done something so silly and juvenile before.

He'd never seen those looks on their faces before to know what they meant.

He'd learned much later from seeing them in every ghost who met him in the Labyrinth. The sorrow. The regret.

... "Hey! Where's, where's my sister?"

Jason stuttered terribly over that, and not because of the heart wrenching answer they all knew was coming and Nico's deep breaths and clenched hands as he strived not to summon anymore ghosts. Deja vu made those words familiar, but he didn't think he'd ever gotten an answer either...For the love of the gods he swore he felt the sensation of a wet, rough tongue as an answer?

He shook his head hard and started to wonder if being down here was literally driving him crazy.

Dead silence. I stared at Chiron. I couldn't believe nobody had told him yet.

Nico considered for several achingly long moments as Jason took an uneasy breath telling Will to leave. He didn't want his only friend to see him like this, like Percy would always see him. As a child, his little tantrum, destroying his home. Will would definitely want to take back hanging out with him if he got a glimpse of his abilities.

The thought of sitting on this couch alone paralyzed his mouth. Will had been so solid, warm, stretched out right next to him without touching for so long, the idea of even going a page without that now sounded unbearable. Will hadn't let him down, not once in every chance he'd had to even move seats away after all Nico had done last time.

He swallowed, and let himself trust, just the tiniest bit. Even if his fingers ached painfully around his figurine.

Percy was a great judge of character, ten times better than him, and he obviously liked Will. So Nico would give him this chance.

I realized why. They'd been waiting for us to appear, to tell Nico in person.

Thalia gave him one of her trademark, 'Percy, are you really that dumb,' kind of looks, but she just didn't have the heart to really correct him right now. None of them had known before Percy came back and told them. How could they? Nobody had updated Camp on the quest. Even if a god had cared enough, nobody would have thought to, Bianca being a Hunter.

That was the last thing I wanted to do. But I owed it to Bianca.

Percy was chewing on his lip so hard he probably should have been concerned why it didn't hurt more and wasn't a bloody mess. He felt like he owed Bianca his life, this quest, and Annabeth's life for her sacrifice. And that he'd utterly failed her.

Looking at this guy now, skinnier than a scarecrow in a trench coat, who had only laughed once and at Percy's expense and seemed shocked any time somebody so much as looked at him to long. All she'd wanted was for her brother to be happy at Camp, but Percy was starting to guess that had turned out about as well as Nico's lone request of him.

... I got up from my comfortable chair. "Let's take a walk, we need to talk."

"I swear nothing good in history has ever happened after that sentence," Alex muttered.

"Not even from you?" Magnus asked quietly, that usual gleam of curiosity in his eyes when he looked at her.

She considered for only a moment before giving him a wink. "Maybe something I'll strive for in the future."

She watched the curiosity morph to confusion and would swear she felt the blush that still lingered creeping up his neck with a wicked smile. She really could just sit around and watch this doof react to anything for hours.

He took the news in silence... tried to explain Bianca had sacrificed herself... only making things worse.

Nico really hadn't heard a word he'd said. He'd seen Percy's lips move, that look a teacher or student so often gave him when they realized he was an orphan just kept growing in Percy's green eyes.

Little words had fluttered in the air between them like the snow flurries, 'she was a hero,' 'she'd sacrificed herself for the quest,' but no mention of Talos or that hole in his foot, lightning strikes or anything about the Funky Chicken had been described.

She wasn't coming back. She'd left him, forever. That's all he'd heard, over and over, and to this bitter day as he clenched his hand so tight his fingers ached around the Hades figurine. He'd never been able to properly separate his crush on Percy from this horrible, gnawing grief he never knew what to do with. That stupid game, the useless conversation with ghosts, practicing with his powers or even travelling. Talking to Minos, strategies against Kronos, his unfulfilling need to get even a glimpse of his real memories or any time he spent with his dad. Nothing he'd done had ever made him feel any less alone than this moment.

"Nico, I-" Percy's voice still sounded like that all these years later. Nico looked around at him with a desperate want to understand how to make that feeling go away. If he actually forced his brain to listen to everything Percy said.

Even now, the book had just glossed over it! Like the cosmic universe was once again going out of its way to deny him even the slightest moment of peace.

"Later," Nico snapped, sharp and regal with his eyes like fire. Percy shut his mouth and nodded his head and it still didn't make Nico feel anything other than dread.

Will stopped and started in his head a dozen times how to say something as he watched and ultimately kept his mouth shut. He'd barely gotten to be Nico's friend for a few days, he didn't think he'd be well received jumping into this mess.

"You promised you would protect her," Nico said. He might as well have stabbed me.

"Sorry," Nico said through gritted teeth. Not because Percy didn't deserve to hear that, he did a thousand times over from his bratty mouth lashing out and making Percy feel worse about something that wasn't his fault, but because he couldn't make himself say it louder. He didn't want Percy to keep looking at him with pity!

"You've nothing to be sorry for Nico, I, I did try, and it just..." Percy fumbled off terribly. He couldn't blame Nico if he had been in this room hating his existence this whole time. It really explained why he'd been this way. If Percy had been thrown in a room with Luke he wouldn't exactly have been jumping around with joy either.

Jason really wished he could put this aside and not be here. This felt so personal, and he knew by the extremally awkward look on Magnus's face he felt the same way. Thalia was sniffling a bit but holding steady as usual, her guilt in Bianca's death was still more of an echo of what she'd lost before she'd even gotten to know her. Only Alex still looked fascinated by this as her eyes pinged from book to each boy like she was waiting for something else to happen.

..."You lied to me. My nightmares were right!"

Percy's heart leapt so hard in his chest he thought it had crawled into his skull and was thumping around in there, double time along with his headache. Oh, that could not be good. Not another Luke!

Nico sat there watching, waiting for the inevitable now of somebody to turn to him like he'd anticipated so long ago and accuse him. He was down here as Kronos's spy, his father had them all in here as some tortuous punishment and they were all going to die battle to the death style before they could leave.

All he got were a lot of confused, even concerned looks and Alex saying, "man, hope those went away even before we got a reprieve in here."

They hadn't, much. Most days he over taxed his powers just to pass out to sleep, otherwise he was up for days at a time dreading it. Then he usually spent the time dream walking and pushing his abilities just a little further.

Jason was the only one who hesitated a moment longer, checking with Thalia and Percy before he tried to keep reading like that announcement was something casual rather than a stake of doom. They both just looked, tired. They knew nothing they said could actually make this hurt any better for Nico, and he wasn't even yelling at them again. He wasn't summoning ghosts and even the shadows on the wall weren't behaving out of order.

They didn't know what Jason did though, Nico's apparent offer to take him home. He was obviously very good at keeping secrets. Was his endgame to gain just his trust?

Still, the obvious answer was that if Nico was some hellion sent from Saturn, it seemed stupid to sit around and wait for the book to reveal that.

So he kept reading like a good little solider, because nobody else had told him to do otherwise.

"Wait. What nightmares?"

Will held back a frustrated hiss by the tightest clamp of his lips. He had noticed the new kid hadn't been sleeping very well, and only asked about it a few times. Nico had never explained and only continued following Connor and Travis around just like him. The four of them hadn't exactly spent countless hours of time that week though, more often than not trying to ditch the youngest kid to anybody else, and even when that worked the Stolls would mysteriously vanish when Will wasn't watching too.

They were all way to young and idiotic to deal with any of this by themselves, yet there had been no one around to ask.

...the god statue clattered across the icy marble. "I hate you!"

Nico was a very good liar, even to himself. He'd been yelling at Bianca and Percy in that moment.

He hated him so much.

He loved him too much.

It should have been getting easier, buried deep six feet under in his own head, trapped in Percy's presence to keep that twined as tight as ever where it belonged, Martha and George had nothing on him.

Instead it had been wiggling up, page by page, one tiny crevice at a time no matter how much dirt he threw over trying to keep it all buried alive.

His eyes skimmed desperately over the books to go. He could do this, he could get out of here same as he'd entered a free man with no one the wiser! He had to scramble desperately in his mind for a minute to remember the plan, Tartarus. Conquering hero. Then the snake pit would finally vanish.

... standing before the judges right now, being evaluated. I can feel it."

Magnus didn't lie to himself, that one kind of creeped him out. He shivered in his jacket and tried his best not to ask Nico why the line was so long, and if he could do that for anyone.

"She had to be evaluated?" Will asked, looking at Nico the same way as always. Open curiosity. "Really? I don't know why, but I thought you two would get some slack cut from your dad."

Nico made a bitter, distasteful noise. He couldn't bring himself to snap at Will though, he'd done nothing to deserve it, but he knew his voice still sounded cold and harsh. "Try the opposite." Nico knew what a dangerous game he played, toeing the line with his powers, just daring Thanatos to come calling. No dark shadows would heal him, his fathers standards were not to be tempted.

... A hissing, clattering noise I recognized all too well.

Percy shivered now, but not because Nico still sort of gave him the creeps, sitting all stoic over there not even batting an eye at knowing what his dead sister was up to.

He'd take the alive kid who hated him over these monsters that couldn't die! Talk about nightmare fuel, he didn't need memories to promise he'd awoken from plenty of his own in the coming weeks.

... I wasn't sure how they'd made it inside the camp, but it didn't matter.

Nico's scowl twisted into something death like himself. He had a bad feeling they'd come in the same way he'd gone out. Born from soil, they'd have no problems trying to navigate the Labyrinth, and he'd run blindly from that pavilion following no set path and just stumbled across this. It seemed no coincidence to him, death had always followed, and lead him everywhere.

Will's hand moved without thought, he wanted so badly to trace that hurt with his hand aglow and take that away, but stopped himself at the last second, letting his hand fall back away and swallowing a guilty blush. That was no friendly gesture on his part, but he didn't stop himself from saying what he wanted it to mean. "I'm glad you two are okay." Gods, he couldn't even imagine if these things hadn't been stopped. Who knew if they would have ended their crusade with Percy.

Nico made a soft noise of surprise only Will heard, unsure if he'd heard that right. Nobody had ever said that to him either.

I'd never get help in time.

Nico did his very best not to clear his throat and seethe. Obviously he'd never been considered to help, he'd been playing pattycake while Percy and his sister were out saving the world.

Even now, no matter how many years later, Percy would probably tell him to run like the hero he was and never believe he could be of any help.

... "You brought these, these things?"

It was the only thing they'd been whispering. Unlike so many of the undead, they had just spoken the one word over and over in their horrible chattering. Kill, kill, kill...it was no wonder Nico had assumed the worst. He probably wouldn't bother to defend that claim either, nobody would want to hear what the ghosts had been saying.

...Nico, run. They can't be destroyed." ..."I don't trust you!"

That one didn't hurt as bad as being reminded of how much he'd failed these two, but it still left a bad feeling in place as Percy fought against his hands not to go for his sword. Of the many shitty retorts he'd ever had lobbed at him, he'd never heard that one. Percy wanted on instinct to prove otherwise, he could help this guy. Somehow he'd prove it.

"Run, Nico!" ..."No!" He pressed his hands to his ears.

"Think I owe you a thanks for that one," Percy told him in his usual chill voice, he could have been commenting on the weather or how ugly he found Mr. D's track suite. What help could Nico have gotten? None that would have done any good, the only ally to save him had been right there. If Chiron, or gods forbid, Annabeth had come running, he didn't want to think what would have happened to them trying to step in and get in the way of these murder machines.

Nico looked at him like he was nuts. He could see the way Percy was looking at him with the troubled eyes of someone who still didn't see him, not really. Percy now knew everything about him, and yet nothing at all.

At least his first reaction was still to make polite conversation with him?

Percy finally turned away and Nico realized he'd been expected to say something back. As usual, he had no clue what.

... It was only a matter of seconds before the zombies overpowered me.

"I second that thanks Nico," Thalia agreed with a very troubled look at the book. They'd gone through all that effort keeping this idiot alive on that quest, and here he was back at Camp, safeish, and these things still almost got the best of him! She smacked Percy on the shoulder. "I can't leave you alone for five seconds without you nearly dying!"

"Guilty as charged," Percy didn't look to happy about agreeing with that one.

... the earth swallowed the skeletons in one loud CRUNCH! Silence.

"Well then," Alex enunciated this with the air of one announcing the winner of the contest. "Somebody's been holding back on us! Why didn't we see flames and people being swallowed by the earth when you pulled that stunt! That crack in the floor isn't big enough for a poodle Nico."

"Um," Nico really couldn't help but smile back at Alex Fierro. "My bad."

"You'll do better next time, to much dang control over your powers to let it all out," she concluded with a mild huff.

"Right." Well, that was one way to look at it he'd never thought of.

...a twenty-foot-long scar wove across the marble floor of the pavilion.

Nico's stomach still quivered at that. He couldn't stop himself chancing another glance at Percy, just waiting for someone to make a comment about Luke to him, anything. He'd left a scar on this sacred ground, his evil powers still there and made even walking past this place a nightmare, let alone sitting down and attempting to eat.

"Now that's a rumor I'm going to brag about forever when I get back," Will grinned. "Finally, I've never gotten to be the one to put a theory to rest before!" Finishing with a smile at Nico like Will just couldn't wait to see what he was going to do next.

Still, Nico couldn't think of anything to say.

"Did you want to be the one to tell Connor it wasn't aliens trying to dig up gold there?" Will asked curiously.

"Um, no. I'm good. That's all you Will," he assured. These guys were insane, Nico finally concluded. Officially certifiable. Maybe that was the only way he'd ever make friends. If so, it wasn't the worst thing ever.

..."Go away!" he yelled. "I hate you! I wish you were dead!"

Percy waited for something to happen. A shiver, a whisper of unease, another creeping sense of an oath being placed upon him that would forewarn of another death.

Nothing happened except another wave of sorrow as he glanced at the guy. That he'd heard before, and Nico hadn't been drunk and slurring while he'd said it. Nico had been no Ares, placing a curse upon him. He'd just been a scared kid, and Percy had no idea how to help.

... heading toward the woods. I started to follow but slipped and fell to the icy steps.

Nico's bitter laugh thrummed around the room, funny to nobody but him. He hadn't even expected that much, but now he heard Percy Jackson had tried. Not a Titan, God, or countless monsters had ever stopped his path before, but this time, a patch of ice did.

...It was a statue of Hades, Lord of the Dead.

"Well that's nice and poetic at least," Jason rolled his eyes as the flipped the page. "It would have just been awkward if it was Zeus or something."

"He's a dime a dozen," Nico answered absentmindedly. "Hades is the rarest." He was almost smiling again. Bianca had known that. She really had been listening all those times she wanted him to shut up. He ran his thumb gently over the little figurine, by the time Percy had placed it in his hand a second time he'd swear it shrank. The helmet of darkness wasn't even close to a good replica, there wasn't a lot of detail outside of the black robes and the hulking posture.

He had 4,000 attack power though, 5,000 if attacked first, the strongest of any god. His recovery was the worst though, and his defense was only bearable when Cerberus was laid out. A deck he'd always favored anyways, he loved his stealth and sneak attacks, poisons and trap cards. Laying out the lowest damage characters first and losing them like pawns to summon the biggest, deadliest monsters that only the most skilled figured out how to take down.

Annabeth and Grover helped me search the woods for hours, but there was no sign of him.

Nico whipped around so fast to look at Percy, they swore they heard something crack.

"Um, yeah," Percy shrugged. "Did you think I wouldn't?"

"Yes!" The word blurted out of his mouth before he could stop it, and he wrestled himself back into his seat before anything else crazy came out.

Percy exchanged an uneasy look with Thalia before he said, "gosh Nico, you really think that bad of us? I'd go looking for anyone who went in there alone. You were ten and had no training, I don't even know how you survived."

The question wasn't phrased right in Nico's ears, it was all backwards. He'd always believed they thought that bad of him. "I, I didn't, um, I mean you," but he couldn't make the words come out. Why was it he could only talk to Percy when he had some stupid comment to say?

Thalia only had to tap Jason twice to convince him to keep going in the awkward silence. They didn't know where that conversation was going, but it didn't seem anywhere good.

"We have to tell Chiron," Annabeth said. "No," I said.

Nico's eye lashes fluttered in fascination. By this time he'd already been wandering alone, hearing the whispers down the dark, earthy, narrow ways to guide him. He'd always thought Percy had gone right back inside to hold hands with Annabeth by the fire and keep talking about cool kid things, like cars and girls, as the oppressive silent earth guided him alone.

..."Um," Grover said nervously, "what do you mean, no?"

"Have you ever told anyone no?" Magnus agreed in surprise. "I feel like I could walk up to you any day and ask you to go to a wine tasting or help me with my dogs yeast infection and you'd say lets go."

"You are not wrong, on either of those," Percy nodded, "but I had a good reason for this one," he tapped the side of his head for once with a stubborn, knowing smile, not all distracted by his mouth getting away from him.

...I don't think anyone realizes that Nico is a son of Hades," Annabeth said.

"How could they not though?" Jason was beyond baffled. "Poseidon somehow knew a conversation you and Annabeth had five minutes ago, how was this massive power he just used in their backyard a secret?!"

"Hopefully they just blamed it on Dionysius having gas," Percy said with a straight face. "I don't know man, they're not omnipeople-

"Omniscient," Magnus corrected.

"That!" Percy agreed with an impatient gesture. Magnus was considering making that Percy's sign name. "You've seen that." He squared his shoulders like he was about to take on the world again. "Nico's safer so long as nobody else knows who he is, with any luck even he didn't figure it out right then!" The beginning lines of that very first book felt like a warning to others more than him. His fate felt sealed, but with any luck this kid wasn't doomed too.

"Um," Nico's heart was pounding in his chest, his breaths constricting like the first monster had already caught his scent.

The words. Those three stupid words were traitorously right back and he physically bit his tongue to stop himself. He didn't even dare to let himself say a thanks.

...Hades broke the oath! This is horrible!"

There! Nico's mind latched onto that like a bear trap. That was a nice reminder even Annabeth wasn't infallible. She'd still assumed the worst of his dad, that was normal.

..."But how did they get out?" Annabeth protested.

"I have a bit of an idea about that," Thalia offered cautiously. She watched Nico, waiting to see if he wanted her to stop.

He was still looking down at his figurine like it was a choking hazard and pretending not to pay them any mind.

"Perhaps Hades took his own kids out of that casino after seeing Percy unmatched by Zeus." She hesitated and licked her lips nervously, she had everybody's attention but Nico's. "I mean, obviously there were monsters, but never to such a degree as what I'd been through. A part of the Lord of the Underworld might have hoped Zeus now knew his pain in the death and resurrection of his own daughter, and would show mercy."

Nico considered it for a moment. His dad had told him, he'd wanted a bite at the prophecy, a chance to prove his kids had some worth. Thalia's answer seemed a tad too generous to his ears, but then, Thalia was right about one thing. There had been no Poseidon around to protect Percy from a death bolt from the sky. Had bias saved Percy, and Zeus really hated them just that little bit more? Or was it possible in the eighty odd years and a touch of his own mortality suffering on earth, Zeus's heart grew one size?

... Maybe it's part of this Great Stirring thing.

"That Stir Pot can stop causing trouble any day by the way," Magnus sighed.

Percy didn't bother with the sweet, sweet revenge of correction like Magnus had thought, he was to busy slouched in his chair and rubbing his eyes in exhaustion.

I don't think Nico understands who he is.

It hadn't taken him long. Time was a mess just beneath the earths surface, but Minos had been a very helpful tour guide, much more than Athena. He'd gotten to ask any question he liked, even if the answers weren't always the most truthful.

... "I choose the prophecy. It will be about me."

"Can you do that?" Alex asked with delight. "Just, yank a prophecy on top of your head like a hat?"

"I'm certainly going to try," Percy agreed like he was signing up for volunteer work at the candy shop. "Time to stop beating around the bush. I'm tired of how much damage this stinking prophecy has already caused Thalia. I can take that choice, and I will."

Thalia smiled at him, a soft gentle thing he hadn't known she could. "Thanks," she said so simply, butting shoulders with him.

"Yeah, anytime," he said, and really meant it.

Nico watched like they were speaking a different language. He had no clue how the two were so casually affectionate with each other, and it was nothing like how Percy was with Annabeth. Just two friends, understanding each other.

...It was the last thing I wanted, but I knew I had to step up and claim it.

Percy once again brushed the gray strands of hair aside as if he'd already forgotten they were there. Of course it was the exact same look on his face as when he'd stepped up and taken the sky from a goddess. How could Nico not admire him?

He checked himself though and glanced at the others, and was stunned to see they all had the same smile. Different intensities, Thalia's was definitely the most proud and loving. She wasn't in love with Percy.

It was, confusing.

..."The poor kid who hates you and wants to see you dead," Grover reminded me.

"At least this guy actually saved my life before vanishing into this forest," Percy said without to much concern. "I'll take him over whatever the heck Luke would have been in here doing to me, probably brought more scorpions and been holding everybody at sword point."

Only Alex got a laugh out of that while Nico sighed and tapped on his sword. He should deny it, he knew he should because he wanted Percy the opposite of dead, but what would be the point? Besides, it might mess with his head or memories or whatever-

"That's not funny Percy," Will sounded like he was gently scolding a puppy against chewing on his shoes. "Nico's been nothing but friendly to you this entire time. Don't compare him to Luke anymore than you would yourself."

Percy gave them a sheepish smile and then went cross-eyed and groaned, falling so far back into his seat he seemed to be hoping it would swallow him. Whatever memories he couldn't connect to how he knew Nico didn't want to kill him, they'd guess.

"You didn't have to do that," Nico whispered, eyes straight ahead but leaning in closer. "I didn't ask you to."

"You shouldn't have had to," Will murmured against his ear.

... "We can convince him it's okay, hide him someplace safe."

"I really hope this wasn't the outcome of that idea," Jason frowned.

"Gods, hopefully even my plans never get that crazy," Percy agreed.

..."I'll make sure Luke's got other things to worry about. Namely, me."

"Which in itself is a terrifying thing," Thalia said without a drop of sarcasm.

"Here's hoping I succeed," Percy opened his eyes enough to mock raise a toast, the sort of determined look on his face that had led him into every battle. He owed Luke years of hell for every minute Annabeth had been under that sky.

I wasn't sure Chiron believed the story Annabeth and I told him.

Jason snorted. "He definitely did not. Maybe if Grover had been the one to try and string a story together."

"Well he didn't ask us to many questions after, so it got the job done," Percy shrugged.

...Unfortunately, Nico wasn't the first half-blood to disappear.

Magnus kept the dower comment to himself how many Campers had gone missing when Luke was there, and he'd smoothly brushed it all aside under Chiron's nose too. Kids who had been scared away, kids who had been recruited, kids who might have just asked to many questions about Luke's possible behavior change and gotten a scorpion in their bed. They still had not a clue who that spy in camp was. A serial killer could have been running around this place and he wasn't sure what Chiron would do about it.

... I hope he was eaten by monsters, better than being in the Titans' army."

"Screw him!" Will spat, making all of them startle like Oceanus had just appeared again. "There's nothing better about either of those options!"

"Er, Will, neither of those happened to me," Nico hesitated briefly before gently patting him on the shoulder, and fighting off a smile. Will had almost cussed, over something about him?

"That's not the point," Will only seemed to be getting more worked up as Nico tried to dismiss this too. "I was so sick of him even back then not ever giving us a real answer for what to do when another kid went missing! I know it hurts, gods knows I should be 'used to it' if I want to be a doctor because losing people is inevitable, but I'm not going to tell people that death by poisonous bite is better than kidnapping and brainwashing!"

"Um, maybe you could write him a doctors note too or something to get him out of having to share anymore of that, kind of news," Nico awkwardly offered. "You could take over."

Will made a guttural noise of agreement and the others were still a little too cautious about going on after that until Will relaxed back into his seat, arm over the couch like usual again.

... I almost changed my mind about telling Chiron, but I didn't.

"I don't know what he could have done about it all anyways," Jason sighed. "If Grover didn't use a tracking song to find him, there doesn't seem much," he gave an apologetic look at Nico.

"Chiron's certainly never done anything in the past about it," Will said none to quietly this time. He felt bad the instant the words left his mouth, he shifted guiltily in place because it wasn't right to blame Chiron anymore than it was the heads of the cabins for all the kids going missing. He was just tired of the constant reminder, and it wasn't making him or anyone else feel better by not acknowledging it.

... Percy; try to keep your mind on school. You will need rest."

"I'll second that," Percy managed around a yawn, eyes still half lidded as he raised his hand.

"Last page Percy, almost done," Jason promised as Thalia rubbed a commiserating hand up and down his back. It had been a really, really long day for everyone.

... I can keep an eye on Mount Tam, make sure the Titans don't try anything else."

Magnus squirmed around in his seat like it was trying to eat him. Alex had half a mind to take her garrote and tie him up if she didn't feel so bad for him. He obviously still had doubts about how that was going to work out, now in a somehow ever more dangerous venue than just her own house, but the city itself apparently. California was a long way from New York if his cousin needed help...

She didn't think him stressing over something was as fun to watch though as that big, dumb, goofy smile, so she said, "Annabeth's one man army over there! She could raise her own group of half-bloods and storm that place in an hour, tops."

"I bet she'd pack great snacks for the trip too," Percy nodded.

Magnus knew they were kidding, but if Percy only seemed mildly worried about it as he rubbed at his forehead like usual, rather than trying to explode the place at those prospects, he tried to take comfort.

... It won't be until the summer. Luke will need time to regain his strength."

Then Alex leaned in closer and muttered something else just for Magnus, and it must have been one of those book references only they'd get again because his laugh was genuine now.

...  So close to sixteen I didn't want to think about it.

"Everybody involved in this deserves so much hell for making you dread a birthday, of all things," Will said with a sorrowful look at Percy. There were scant few things a half-blood regularly got to celebrate, another birthday was always a grand one.

"I just won't invite them to my party, that'll show them," Percy sniffed, then winced again and found himself looking at Nico for the millionth time. Gods he was exhausted.

... take care of yourself, and no crazy stunts in the Sopwith Camel."

"How dare you Percy," Jason gasped.

"You're just jealous she didn't invite you," Thalia agreed before the two busted out laughing.

"If I hear of her doing loops around LA, I won't be there to distract the Air Force," Percy insisted, "she should at least wait until she gets back to camp."

"Blackjack could do that," Jason waved off.

"Just admit it Perce, you dread the thought of her having fun without you," Thalia smirked.

Percy crossed his arms and did no such thing. "Her idea of fun is taking online classes. I'm just looking out for her."

"Right," they said together, and it was even weirder than the first time how they managed to do that so well together.

...Whatever she was going to say was interrupted by Grover,

"Goat blocking man, I've nearly had it with this guy," Alex chuckled.

"I'm sure Annabeth was going to say something completely innocent and wholesome to Percy, like be good in school," Magnus said without a trace of sincerity.

... His face was haggard and pale, like he'd seen a specter.

"Oh shit!" All seven of them collectively said at once, Jason nearly losing his place they jumped so bad. Not again, nothing bad could happen now! Was he about to fall to the floor dead with a knife in his back, the real enemy revealed?!

... drinking coffee. Lots and lots of coffee!

"I swear if he just had a caffeine hallucination I'm going to break off one of his horns," Will promised as he rubbed at his chest.

And he spoke in my mind!" "Who?" Annabeth demanded.

"Not me!" Percy yelped.

Thalia smacked him on the back of the head. "Obviously! Shush!"

...Grover stared at me. "Just three words. He said, 'I await you...'"

Nico pressed his hand to his stomach and wondered if he could vomit up a ghost if he was stressed enough. They might all find out if he really tried to sit through that encounter tomorrow.

"Whoa," Jason yelped just as loudly the second time as his heart skipped a beat in shock for that. It seemed fantastical, to good to be true. "The last time this happened, he nearly married a cyclops!"

"This can't be the same thing," Magnus shook his head, "he said the god spoke directly to him! Maybe, maybe he really did have some kind of connection to him in Cloudcroft."

"With a pig, and coffee?" Percy looked dubiously concerned what the hell that was all leading up too.

"Sounds like the breakfast of champions," Jason snorted.

"Would not be the strangest thing we've heard, not even close," Alex reminded. Her hands were already twitching to reach for the next one, this was officially addicting. She'd never read a book before where the protagonist was right in front of her so she could mock him for all the stupid things he did!

Percy yawned right over the end of her sentence and then offered a quick apology.

"Right, yeah, it is late somewhere," Thalia swiftly agreed, jumping out of her seat in solid agreement.

Jason hoped it was just his imagination she bolted out of the room faster than lightning could follow and trying not to look at him.

Percy didn't launch after her though and slam into the nearest bed.

Nico had said later.

It was later.

Even Nancy Bobofit could have picked up on the fact that Nico was Not Okay with what had happened to Bianca, and frankly, Percy still wasn't either. Things had ended bad, to say the least, and though he didn't strictly fear for his life, he would feel better clearing the air with the guy before he slept under the same roof as him.

He missed Will saying something to Nico and rushing off too, Jason was already vanishing out the door with his face just begging for a pillow mark. Alex and Magnus didn't even seem to notice everybody was drifting off as they started going over ASL again, so Percy asked, "hey, um, is it later?"

Nico didn't quite look at him. He was tapping his sword and fidgeting with his ring in that agitated pattern he did, his hands still moving about like they had that first day on the bleachers. All he was missing was the shuffling cards.

That figurine had vanished again, but Percy had seen fleeting images of it coming in and out of his pocket. Nico had gotten it back at some point, and he hadn't used it to bash Percy's head in, so Percy again tried to soothe himself there was nothing wrong as Nico finally gave a jerky nod, then sprang to his feet and walked out.

He kept checking over his shoulder, the whole way up the stair case. Percy hopped a chunk of step missing in confusion and tried to figure out what the hell else he could say that he hadn't already.

Nico held the door open for Percy, and then stayed there with his hand in place as Percy walked past to look about, body still half turned towards the stairwell. "If you're worried about me wanting you dead," he began promptly, "don't worry, I don't. It was childish of me, and I said I was sorry." That, he really, truly was. He'd never had a chance, he'd never done himself any good at being the slightest bit appealing to Percy.

"I'm not really worried about that Nico," not an entire lie, but he couldn't figure out what Nico's plan for revenge was trapped down here in the ocean either. "I just, you seemed so upset, and I can tell Bianca's death hit you really hard before. If I can somehow give you, some other detail the book didn't, anything else-"

He sounded too sincere, that snake pit holding those three words together was clawing its way painfully to the surface, and snakes didn't even have claws! "I said let it go Percy!" Pebbles were moving beneath their feet, this was a dangerous combination as the two could possibly create a new mountain if they kept shaking the earth. He instantly regretted letting this happen, he didn't want to hear it, be alone with Percy on a dark balcony no matter what the topic was!

"Yeah, I know, I was just making sure everything's-"

"Well it's not okay!" He snapped, there was an icy pattern beginning to ring out from the door neither of them noticed. "I don't blame you for Bianca's death, how could I when I love-!"

He slapped his hand to his mouth before a pathetic gasp could escape next and stumbled back-

He didn't say it. He didn't manage to ruin his life, so Percy would have no choice but to just shrug and let it go.

The admission that had been on the edge of his tongue, that he'd never spoken a soul to but had been at the forefront of his mind for inescapable days now had nearly passed from his lips like a death omen.

There was a horrible moment where nothing was beneath his foot, and he knew he was going to fall. Crash down each step, and his mind had already accepted it as he substituted any person in the world except that last word-

Percy snatched his arm, caught him. The shock hadn't even fully formed on his face yet, reflexes to fast to catch up with his brain as Percy's too warm hand steadied him.

Then came the awkward silence as they just stood there, frozen in time like that.

He didn't know what he was expecting, for Percy to smile and laugh this off too? Hug him and promise he was accepted? Give him a manly, awkward pat on the shoulder and tell him it would never happen? Punch him for trying to betray Annabeth?

Kiss him?

Instead, his expression slowly morphed into dumbstruck and he just blabbed back, "I'm not gay." His hand leapt from Nico's shoulder liked he'd been scalded. It was the only motion backwards he made, but it was loud enough.

It wasn't malicious, he didn't say the word like a slur. The word. He just looked so, typical, Percy.

He slowly lowered his hand and said in a deadly calm voice, "I'm aware," and then fled before this could possibly get any worse.

...

"Oh Nico, I've been looking for you! I wanted to ask-" Will froze at his red rimmed eyes, how he was swallowing convulsively and trying to pretend his breathing wasn't a hair past ragged as he walked slowly towards his door. The deck of cards slipped out of Will's hand and scattered across the floor.

A silly little doodle of a baby cupid holding an arrow still spun slowly in place until it smacked against his shoe. "Oh," he whispered stupidly. Nico hadn't really hesitated, but Will still called after him, "do you, want to talk about it?"

He froze with his fist around the handle, and turned back ever so slightly to take a peek at his expression. Whatever he saw there caused a tear to escape, but he quickly wiped it away. "Have you ever felt like the only bi person on Earth?"

His voice cracked at the end, the door handle was slowly being covered with frost. Will watched as a few more tears tracked down the side of his face, and this time he didn't wipe them away. "No," he wished he could lie, especially as Nico nodded without surprise.

"Then no," he whispered, turning away and closing the door firmly behind him.

PJOPJOPJOPJO

Dang, two books in a row. I may or may not have a Solangelo problem...

I don't know what it is about the third book in a series, but this one is my favorite of the original five. Maybe it's Thalia, maybe it's the set up of this one finally feeling dangerous with the actual deaths, but it's certainly the one I vividly remembering reading the most in my youth.

Next book will start up again on Halloween! Until then my lovely soul's!

*Clarisse's hair had originally been told as brown. Of course dirty blonde could be an off shoot of brown, but still felt like pointing it out.

**Yes, that is how Apollo described Nico's smile in Tower of Nero, and it's been my favorite description of Nico I've been begging to use and this felt like the exact perfect chapter.