The Boy in Black
One thing Percy learned was that the demigods down in the arena were really interesting people.
"Son of Ares, I am" Grimwald had told him early while they had been walking through the courtyard. The courtyard reminded Percy of a prison exercise yard in a sense. The point of it was to allow the combatants fresh air not available in the underground. As well, combatant interaction with the outside world was heavily restricted. Percy figured the guards thought allowing the combatants some view of the sky and natural weather would help temper the temptation to flee. Just in case any combatant did try to escape, a large cobblestone wall, mossy and beaten from wind erosion, lined the perimeter of the yard.
This particular night the courtyard was blanketed in a thin layer of pure white snow. It was still snowing gently, so white dots peppered Percy's view. The walkways in the courtyard were dimly illuminated by pale amber torches. There was a small pond next to a snow covered bench that had frozen over.
"I was a fuckin prodigy, I was. Most fierce warrior out of my brethren. I didn't take shit from anybody, and that's what got me here. Some kid from the Apollo cabin pissed me off, and I killed him".
At that point Percy looked up to Grimwald. He face was stern; it showed no signs of remorse. Yet at the same time, it showed none of the fire that Grimwald had said he was full of when he was in Camp Half-Blood. The jagged scar that ran down from the top right of his forehead, down across his eye and lip, and curved around to his jugular was eerily illuminated in the moonlight.
Grimwald looked down at Percy. "What? I'm here for a reason. It's not too bad here actually. I can kill someone in the arena when the thirst returns, there's meat and wine for dinner, and it's a place for me to sleep. My time here has been the best of my life".
Percy returned his gaze to the ground front of him. He shoved his pants in his jean pockets as he walked.
"What was it like, to kill someone in that fashion?" Percy asked tentatively, not wanting to sound condescending. Don't want to get on this guy's bad side.
Grimwald raised his hand to his mouth and took a puff of the Honduran cigar he had in his hand. Apparently once you were an established enough combatant you had the privilege of receiving limited amounts of outside commodities. He blew the smoke out from his mouth and it formed a halo. "Didn't feel shit. That's what made me like this place better. It seems like no one here feels anything either".
After a few more minutes of silently walking Percy bared Grimwald farewell. Percy went around for another lap while Grimwald went back to the underground. Percy had learned that the rules were that you could come out and stay on the courtyard anytime and as long as you liked. Nazir had said that the catch was that you would be wasting your time by not working.
"Not working down here gets you killed" Nazir had told Percy earlier when he had walked up to the frozen lake. Nazir had been sitting on the bench, left arm outstretched over the top of the bench. His right hand gripped the hilt of his short sword. "So feel free to come and admire the sky all you want. If you ever want to get on the otherside of those walls though, you need to spend your time in the underground putting in work".
Yet here Percy remained. He was the only combatant left in the courtyard. He continued his walk around the yard. Snow was still gently falling from the sky.
Percy was overtaken by the sudden feeling of another person in the courtyard. He hadn't heard anyone else walk in. Despite this, he heard the crunching of snow behind him and a voice call out "Percy…"
Percy spun around to see a certain son of Hades looking at him. He was dressed in all black, with his Stygian iron sword slung in a black holster that hung from his belt. His brown eyes stared into Percy's green ones. They lunged at each other into an embrace. They held each other for a few seconds before moving back slightly to look back in each other's eyes. Percy patted Nico's back which was covered in a black leather jacket.
"How the hell did you get here?" Percy asked Nico, releasing his grip on the son of Hades.
Nico pointed to the shadow coming off the only tree in the courtyard. "Shadow Travel, duh. Look Percy, I got some things to tell you." Nico gripped his sword hilt as he said the second part and looked around wearily to make sure they were alone.
"Nico if the guards see you they'll kill us both" Percy told him as he looked over his own shoulder.
"I'll be quick. First, people miss you at Camp Half-Blood".
Percy looked at Nico with a puzzled expression. "Why the hell would they miss-"
"I know what you're thinking" Nico continued. "But Percy, we didn't just lose Annabeth. We lost you too" Nico said, poking a finger in his chest. "People are hurt. Hurt because they lost two of their best friends. They want you both back"
Percy was touched in a way. When he thought about it, it made sense as to why they'd be upset. Despite this he was still happy they still had a shred of compassion for him, even if it was for the Percy had known, not the one that was alive right now. It gave him hope.
"Nico, you know I'm innocent. Can't you-"
"I believe you. Unfortunately I'm the only one who does. Well, sorta".
"What do you mean sorta?"
Nico sighed and look at the ground with his tired eyes. Percy could tell he was stressed. "Percy, there's going to be a war".
Percy looked at Nico dumfounded. "Uh, a war? Between who!?"
"Athena and Poseidon. They've always been rivals but Athena was so enraged by Annabeth's murder that she is taking her rage out on Poseidon. Poseidon on the other hand is confused, angry, and insulted at the same time. I'm not sure if he thinks you're innocent, but he's not about to take this disrespect from Athena, so he's firing back. And Zeus is trying to control them both and is putting everyone in danger".
Percy didn't know what to say. A war, all because of me? He wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
"Has there actually been any fighting?"
"There's been a few skirmishes between the three sides. However the camps are in turmoil. The Athena children are being alienated and coming into conflict with the Apollo cabin, who is leaning more to Poseidon's side. But then you have Artemis and the hunters who are against Poseidon. Everything is going down hill."
Percy was quiet for a minute. He then looked back into Nico's eyes. "What side are you on?"
Nico looked down to his chest and unzipped his jacket to reveal a black leather chestplate. It was a trident engulfed in flames.
Percy returned his gaze to Nico's eyes. "Is Poseidon the winning side?"
Nico looked back into Percy's eyes. "Not from the look of it. We're outnumbered and outgunned".
Percy looked back down at Nico's chestplate. He then pulled him into another embrace. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and pulled back once more to look into Nico's eyes. "Nico, you don't have to-"
"I don't fucking care" Nice spat angrily. "I know you're innocent, and you know how I feel about you. Most of the campers hate me anyways. They excluded me because my father is the lord of death. I'll kill them if I have to."
Percy looked down at the ground and slowly let go of Nico. "Be careful Nico".
Nico nodded. "And you be careful as well. Do what you have to in order to prove your innocence. That's one of the two things that'll hopefully stop this war."
"What's the other?" Percy asked wearily, though he already knew the answer.
Nico looked hard into Percy's eyes. "Your death. By Athena's hands".
