NICO'S POV

Nico stood at the crest of the hill, watching the peaceful scene below him. Everything was as normal as it could be; satyrs chasing nymphs, the Apollo kids shooting hoops, the Stoll brothers leading a toilet-paper raid, a bunch of Roman and Greek campers were arm wrestling. A usual day at camp. You wouldn't have thought that the place was a wrecked battlefield only a few months ago.

Nico's face darkened. He remembered the hazardous smoke clearing, only to reveal a view far worse. He would have rather been blinded then. But some things just can't be unseen. Like the dead bodies scattered on the camp grounds, the yellow dust of dead monsters settling on them. What few survivors there were straggled around, trying to find their comrades. He vaguely remembered Hazel grasping him, sobbing hard. Frank had them both in a bear hug, tears dripping down the big guy's face. (Normally he'd avoid physical contact, but he decided to make an exception.) Piper's face was buried in Jason's chest, the light head bowed protectively over the dark one. Leo was rolling on the ground, trying to extinguish the flames that covered him. A huge cheer went around collectively, and was immediately cut off by an inhuman bellow of Percy as he held a pale, lifeless Annabeth in his arms. Only she, out of the seven prophesized demigods, had not survived.

Somebody had tried to approach Percy, and it didn't turn out so well. "Back off!" he snarled, swinging his bronze sword. Nico pushed his way out of Frank and Hazel's grasp, made his way towards Percy, and was nearly beheaded by Riptide. Chiron snatched him out of the way just in time and laid a gentle hand on Percy's trembling shoulder. "My boy, I know it is hard seeing a loved one fall, I cannot say it would be easy, but you have us for comfort." The centaur said in a kind, grave tone. "No, no, no, she's NOT DEAD! GIVE ME SOME AMBROSIA AND NECTAR, QUICK! Chiron, I've got to-." He broke down into helpless sobbing. The whole area was deadly quiet. Only Piper's sobs and Percy's screams penetrated the thick silence. It hurt Nico to see him like this. He was also sorry for the child of Athena's death. He liked and respected Annabeth. She was one of the very few who had faith in him all along, and Nico couldn't forget that, even with the jealousy he felt towards her relationship with Percy.

Choking out another sob, Percy pressed one last kiss to Annabeth's forehead, and murmured something that the other campers couldn't hear, but which Chiron picked up easily with his sensitive hearing. The centaur's eyes widened in alarm. "Percy... I forbid you to go searching for the Doors of Death." He said in a stern tone. The other campers gasped. The sea god's son flushed angrily. "What do you care? You don't get it. She'll understand." He snapped. Before he could stop himself, Nico spoke up. "No, she wouldn't, Percy. She'd be upset that you'd try to disrupt the balance between Life and Death." He chided the other boy. Percy's face flushed even darker. "Why you little..." he growled. He started making his way towards Nico, Riptide raised in a threatening position. Jason immediately blocked his way, his blue eyes stormy. He was literally throwing off sparks. "You stay out of this, Grace." He snarled. Piper came over and put her hand on Percy's sword arm. "Please, Percy. Annabeth wouldn't want this." Her kaleidoscope eyes pleading. Percy shook her off. "How would you know what she'd want?" he asked her coldly. Piper was silent, her face dripping with tears. "That's enough, Pe-e-ercy!" Grover bleated nervously. "CAN'T YOU SEE? I'M NOTHING WITHOUT HER!" he screamed. He pushed his way out of the crowd, and stormed into the woods. That was the last time any of them saw Percy Jackson.

A soft thump beside him snapped him out of his reverie. Nico's face took on a rare smile as he sat beside his half-sister Hazel. "Hey." She whispered as she took his pale, ghostly hand and entwined it with her own warm, dark one. "Hey." He squeezed her hand back. "Where's Frank?" he asked. "Oh, you know. Doing praetor duties back in New Rome. Any sign of Percy?" she inquired worriedly. Nico exhaled. "None yet. We've been trying to IM him for the last few months, but the stupid Kelp Head just won't show himself. I've been out scouting in dad's realm, asking the ghosts for hints, but nothing helpful." He growled. Hazel laughed a little. "How are you? I haven't seen you much since the war." She asked, her metallic gold eyes softening. He hesitated. "I'm... better." Nico finally answered. "Good." She said, burying her face in his aviator jacket. He didn't want to worry her. He could just imagine her freaking out if he told her how bad the night terrors were. They hadn't stopped since he came back from Tartarus, and they'd only gotten worse.

"I'm glad you stayed. I really thought you were going to leave." She said softly. Nico nodded. They were silent for a few moments before Hazel stood up, brushed the dirt off her jeans, and offered him a hand. "I better go catch up with the Hecate kids. They're supposed to give me a training session today." She smiled. After the war had ended, Hazel had been invited by the Hecate senior counsellor to train with them. They were impressed at the way she fought, bending the Mist to her will. Nico waved away her hand and used his Stygian sword to push himself up instead. "Sure. You go ahead." He replied. Hazel gave him one last smile and bounded down the hill. She stopped in her tracks and turned around. "Oh, I almost forgot. Chiron wants to see you." she called out. His brows furrowed but he nodded assent. What could the centaur possibly want from me? He thought as he went down to the Big House.

"Good afternoon, Mr. De Anderson." A slurred voice greeted Nico as he entered the parlour. He didn't even bother correcting the wine god. "I was told that Chiron wanted to see me, Mr. D?" he asked. "Won't you have a game of pinochle with me first?" Dionysus gestured to an empty seat. "Uh..." he couldn't think of a polite way to refuse, as he didn't want to be turned into a dolphin or a cheetah. "Mr. di Angelo, there you are." Chiron exclaimed as he entered the room in his magic wheelchair. "Go, you bothersome brat. Go." Mr. D waved Nico away.

"Sit down, sit down." Chiron gestured to a chair in front of his desk, which was littered with Frank Sinatra's hits. Nico sat down rather awkwardly. He felt like a preschooler in the presence of the principal. Dozens of picture frames hung on the wall. Only one caught his eye. A guy with windblown dark hair and sea-green eyes, with his arm around the shoulders of a grey-eyed blonde. Percy and Annabeth. His chest tightened. "So, Nico, I called you in here because we have just found an important lead. We know where Percy is." He drew in a sharp intake of a breath. The centaur's words almost made Nico smile with relief, but he didn't dare show any emotion. Instead, he exhaled slowly through his nose. "Where is he?"

Suspense? Hahahaha.