He sat back. He hated his life right now. Nico just sat there pouting. He didn't want to eat. Yet, by cruel fate, Demeter was making sure he ate anyway.
"What time is it?"
Nico looked at his phone. "9 am."
"Great! Now eat some cereal." Demeter waved her hand, and a box of cereal appeared. "Your too skinny. Why, if you were mine, you wouldn't by this skinny! Not healthy!"
"I don't get why your babying him, mother. I think he can at least pour it himself." Demeter had been pouring the cereal and milk into a bowl. "Or I could be wrong."
Nico rolled his eyes. He and Persephone had agreed to disagree, but sometimes they couldn't help themselves to make fun.
"Then why do you let lady Demeter pour your cereal?"
Persephone glared at him. "Come mother." With a flourish, the pair were gone. Nico pushed his cereal away from him. He didn't like cereal, but Demeter obviously didn't notice, or care. Or maybe a little of both. He forced it down to keep her happy, and from annoying everyone. It was difficult, but someone had to do it. As he stared at the table, he heard laughter.
"Enjoy your cereal?"
Nico snarled. "I don't know. How much did you enjoy imprisonment?"
Thanatos sighed. "Point taken. Isn't that what you say now?"
"Yep."
"How's your shoulder?"
Nico jumped up form the table and ran over to shush him. "Tell all the underworld why don't ya? Or worse, Demeter." Nico shivered. "If I'm going to sneak out, I can't be watched all the dang time!"
"Your leaving? Now?!"
"I can't take any more cereal."
"That doesn't mean that you can leave."
Nico sighed. Thanatos was a good friend, even if he was the death god. He met him sometime last year. Secretly, he was sad about him being gone, but he was able to revive Hazel. Thanatos knew, but he decided to keep it a secret for the time being. He was also keeping the secret about Nico's shoulder. While he had been in Tartarus, he had been attacked by a drakon. The thing bit him on the shoulder, before Nico killed it. He promised himself then and there that he would never make fun of Harry Potter again. Getting bit in the shoulder was no joke. Thanatos found him and helped him back to his father's palace so he could get proper medical care.
"I can't just leave them at the mercy of the Romans. They're innocent."
"Then just let them figure that out for themselves."
"They won't figure it out. Not if Octavian is leading them. Octavian will stop at nothing for power. And he now he has it. He won't give it up without a fight. Besides, pride is a factor. That will play a part."
Nico ran to his room. He passed his grand piano, and found his armor. If he was going to fight, he was going to have to just like everyone else. His armor was mostly the same. He just couldn't use his favorite helmet. He pulled on his armor on and walked down again.
"Do you have a plan?"
"I'm going to blend in. For all the Romans know, I'm missing in action. I can use it to my advantage. They won't know that I'm part of the fight. I'm still a Roman." Nico stroked his arm, where he had his tattoos. Even though he was fighting with the Greeks, he still felt bad about the Romans. Now he knew what it felt like to Percy and Jason. Torn. But he had a job to do. All he had to do was aid the Greeks until the Argo II came back. Then, hopefully, the Romans and the Greeks were best friends. He could end the charade.
The only trick was the fact that the Romans knew him on sight. Staying in the shadows, but also fighting. It wasn't exactly a piece of cake.
Oh well. Sacrifices, right? He just hoped the Romans wouldn't figure out. Especially Reyna and Octavian. Cake, right?
