The camp meeting had dispersed quickly after Nico had volunteered and filled the final spot in the quest. Jason had objected at first, saying that Nico needed to rest and recover more but he had quickly fallen silent at the look Nico directed at him. Chiron had broken the tense silence as Nico and Jason stared each other down.
"There is no cause for concern, Jason." Chiron said, arching an eyebrow at Jason's outburst. "Will is a competent medic and will be able to tend to any medical needs that arise during the quest." Jason's expression softened slightly and his shoulders relaxed.
"I wasn't implying he wouldn't be able to." Jason said, somewhat defensively. "I just don't think Hazel would appreciate Nico throwing himself recklessly into a quest so soon after the war."
"Last I checked, I was capable of making my own decisions, Grace." Nico replied coldly, narrowing his eyes at Jason. He would've thought the older half-blood would've realised Nico was capable of defending himself, if the bruises on his body from their spar earlier were any indication of skill and ability. "Besides, someone has to help out and it wouldn't be fair for you or Percy to have to do it. We've got a healer as the leader – what could go wrong?"
"Yeah," Will interjected, throwing an arm over Nico's shoulder jokingly. Nico quickly shrugged him off. "Di Angelo'll be fine with me. It's her you've gotta watch out for." Will jerked his thumb over his shoulder to Clarisse who muttered something probably profane back to the son of Apollo. "See? She's charming. Monsters just love getting to know her."
Jason threw his hands up in surrender. "Fine. Obviously I can't persuade you not to go so I'll drop it. Just be careful, Nico."
Nico's gaze and tone softened. "I will, don't worry about me." He replied, watching as Jason off to one of the fields where Piper stood waiting for him. Nico turned to face Will and the others, failing to notice the blond averting his eyes quickly. Chiron took control of the conversation once more.
"You'll be leaving in the morning when you're ready, so pack whatever supplies you intend on taking and get some rest. It's a long journey to Delphi, and it's more than dangerous. Gaea has been defeated, yes, but there are still monsters out there that want revenge. Now go get some rest." He dismissed them with a gesture of his hand, an unreadable expression on his face. Nico waited for a moment, watching as Clarisse headed back to her raucous cabin before watching Will curiously as he headed towards the Hephaestus cabin rather than the Apollo cabin. He shook his head before he too headed back to his own cabin, opening the door to find Annabeth sitting on his bed, clearly waiting for him. Scattered around her were books in various states of disrepair. Nico quirked an eyebrow: usually Annabeth's books were in mint condition, not tattered, torn and clearly mishandled.
"Last I checked, knocking was a modern day thing and not just a thirties habit that died out." Nico said before stooping down next to his bed and pulling out a backpack from underneath the bed. He glanced around his room, wondering what to take with him.
"And last I checked, half-bloods tried to live as long as they could rather than volunteering for suicide missions." Nico dismissed her comment, choosing to begin stowing items in his backpack rather than reply. Annabeth, undeterred, continued. "I got these books from the bookcase in my cabin. They've all got conflicted interpretations of Python: some say it's male, some say it's female. Some myths say Python is a dragon and others say drakon. The only one who really has any idea would be Rachel, but she isn't here, and Lord Apollo is out of the question because he's still detained in Olympus." Nico paused in his actions and looked at Annabeth, disbelief etched on his face that she went to such efforts to research this quest.
"And what do the myths say about its strength?" He asked, dreading the answer. He distracted himself from his sense of dread by continuing to pack his backpack.
"That's the bad news." Annabeth consulted one of the books, a leather bound one in relatively good condition, barring the long, suspicious tear down the front of the cover. "Each myth says Python was appointed by Gaea to guard the Oracle of Delphi in the ancient times, which means it has some level of power at the very least. Some myths even say Apollo and Artemis's Titaness mother Leto was hunted by Python throughout her pregnancy and was nearly killed several times by it."
Nico winced. "Great. We've got to kill a dragon that likes eating Titans. Any more good news?" He said, tossing various articles of clothing into the backpack now.
"I'm not sure… not much is said about Python after it's slain by Apollo. You can expect it to have heavily armoured scales though, so killing it will be even harder than normal monsters." Annabeth took the backpack out of Nico's hands and began rifling through it, removing various things and adding new ones in their place.
"That's reassuring." Nico interposed sarcastically, picking up one of the books and flipping through it casually.
"On the bright side, you've got a child of Apollo leading the quest so you won't have to fight Python at close range, you can just kill it from a safe distance and you've got Clarisse – she's killed a drakon before so she should be able to hold Python off long enough for Will to kill it." Annabeth took the book from Nico and stowed it in the backpack, zipping it shut. "There. You're packed. Food, clothing and general supplies." An awkward silence briefly filled the cabin in which Nico awkwardly shuffled his feet.
"So—" Nico began, only for Annabeth to cut him off.
"Be careful, Nico." Nico met her eyes for the first time and was surprised to see a worried look on her face. "Python nearly killed Leto and nearly killed Apollo when he fought it. If you're not careful, Python'll kill you."
"I appreciate your concern, but I wish people would stop worrying about me. I'll be fine." Annabeth smiled and stood up, moving towards the cabin door.
"You're right. You brought the Athena Parthenos back, I'm sure you'll be able to get back safely. Good luck, Nico." He raised his hand in farewell and she was gone, closing the door behind her. He slumped back on his bed and closed his eyes, replaying the memories of the day in his head, very much doubting he would get sleep that night.
He didn't know when he'd fell asleep or how, what with the prospect of killing a dragon that had almost killed an Olympian god and a Titaness loomed over him, but he had, only to be woken up by Jason shaking him awake, telling him it was morning and time to go. As Nico groggily changed – after ensuring that Jason had turned around – the reality of what lay ahead of him seemed to sink in somewhat and he realised that the odds were that they were going to their deaths. He shook the thought of, refusing to let it get to him, and finished tying his laces. Jason stood waiting by the door with Nico's backpack in hand and they left in companionable silence.
They both came to a stop when they turned around the corner and saw what was unmistakably Will ahead of them, standing next to what looked like a heavily modified chariot with a black Pegasus – Nico recognised after a moment to be Percy's Pegasus, Blackjack – harnessed to it. Nico approached and raised an eyebrow, gesturing at the chariot with one hand whilst he accepted his backpack from Jason with the other.
"What's this then, Solace?" He asked, shrugging the backpack onto his shoulder. The blond merely smiled and tapped the chariot fondly.
"This is the Apollo Cabin chariot, now un-destroyed and bigger than ever." Will walked around the chariot, inspecting each part of it intensely and throwing the occasional smug glance over at Clarisse, gesturing from her to the chariot. Clarisse muttered something that sounded to Nico like a suggestion as to where Will could shove the chariot in response. Will's smirk widened. "Jake Mason owed me a favour and I called it in last night, told them that keeping busy helps fight off grief and voila – we've got our transportation to Greece. Blackjack here was kind enough to volunteer – or at least that's what Percy said – to be our chaperone." Nico took a moment to digest this, as did Jason. Blackjack pawed the ground with one of his hooves.
"I thought it was pretty clear how we were getting there – I'd shadow travel us." Will stopped in his tracks and glared at Nico. The transition from carefree to serious was so quick that if Nico had blinked he was sure he'd have missed it.
"Doctor's orders, Di Angelo. You're not shadow travelling us anywhere. You're still too weak after lugging around Madam Wisdom to travel all the way to Athens." Will said it so matter-of-factly, but Nico could sense the warning behind the words so he let the matter drop, albeit reluctantly, knowing that Will could very easily curse him into speaking rhyming couplets if he so wished. Nico raised his free hand in surrender before he heaved his backpack off of his shoulder and dropped it on the chariot. He frowned as he took in the sight of Clarisse's own bags (which had bulges that looked suspiciously like weapons), Will's bags and his own.
"And how do you expect Blackjack to be able to fly the three of us, the chariot and our supplies all the way to the ruins of Delphi from Camp Half-Blood?" Nico asked.
"Well, for one, we're not going straight to Delphi." Will countered. "Blackjack will be dropping us in Athens and waiting there for us. Annabeth was kind enough to provide a map from Athens to Delphi. It's too dangerous for Blackjack to go to Delphi itself, what with Python's tendency to eat things that fly or walk – well, to eat anything really." Will moved around the chariot, adjusting various components of it. "And for two, we're going around the long way so Blackjack doesn't kill himself trying to make it across the ocean in one go." Nico sighed, but he let the matter rest. Clearly Will had thought the route out rather than getting sleep last night.
"In other words," Clarisse piped up from her spot leaning on the edge of the chariot. "He's going ridiculously out of his way so he has more time to brag about his chariot."
"You know me so well, La Rue. How can I resist when my chariot's bigger than yours?" Will winked and Clarisse glared, hissing what sounded like "it's the only thing that's bigger" under her breath. "But relax, Di Angelo," Will continued, ignoring Clarisse. "I've thought it through. We'll get there with plenty of time to spare, not that we're in a rush to go kill this fat lizard or anything."
"I'd like to kill the thing before I go grey watching you two flirt badly." Clarisse uttered, drawing a laugh from Jason as Will turned red and Nico glared. Will glanced down at the watch on his wrist.
"She's got a point – about getting a move on that is, and definitely not the flirting." When Clarisse looked unconvinced, he glared and added: "Definitely not. Anyways, we should be going." By now, their voices had drawn the attention of a few campers who had come to see them off, Percy and Annabeth among them with Chiron closest to the front. Nico moved to step on to the chariot, but Jason pulled him back and into a hug which he returned after a moment.
"Stay safe, Nico." Jason said simply before he fell behind Chiron and watched as Nico clambered onto the chariot. Chiron made a gesture as if he were warding evil away.
"Good luck on your quest Will, Clarisse and Nico." Chiron said. Annabeth stepped forward and stood next to him.
"You know the plan, Solace. If we don't hear from you in 7 days, we're sending a rescue party."
Will nodded. "Chill, Chase. I know the plan. We'll contact you as soon as we get there." He handed the reins to Clarisse, who looked absolutely delighted, and with a small tug she spurred Blackjack into flight. Nico raised his hand in farewell and lowered it only when the camp had been reduced to a barely visible speck on the ground.
They had been flying for just over an hour, Nico in contemplative silence, content to listen to Will and Clarisse bicker among themselves, when Will offered to take the reins to give Clarisse a break.
"Gods no," she said, heaving the reins out of Will's reach, causing Blackjack to violently swerve to the side, dragging the chariot with him. "I've been wanting to fly this thing since we stole it. No way are you getting it off me this easily!"
Will laughed but accepted her response. He stepped back away from the reins and instead slid down the side of the chariot to sit next to Nico whilst Clarisse corrected their course, consulting a compass the Hephaestus cabin had installed on the chariot dashboard and a map next to it of their planned route with navigational instructions. Nico looked up, catching Will looking at him with a curious expression.
"What?" He asked, fidgeting under the other boy's gaze.
"So why'd you volunteer, Di Angelo?" Will said, avoiding the question and averting his eyes for a moment before returning to the inquisitive expression. "Couldn't you stand the thought of being separated from your doctor for more than five minutes, or was it to see the look of surprise on Percy Jackson's face when you volunteered? It was priceless, by the way."
Nico smiled, remembering the dumbfounded expression that had crossed Percy's face – he had half-risen to a standing position before Nico cut him off by volunteering first.
"Guess it just felt right to volunteer," He said, keeping the conversation with Hestia and the approval from Dionysus to himself. "Percy's expression was just an added bonus." Will's expression shifted to a victorious, if not cocky, smirk.
"I knew it was my charms and natural appeal that made you volunteer!" Clarisse gagged – a sound not unlike that of a choking seal – from the front of the chariot and the two of them laughed.
"More like divine intervention." Nico added in an undertone that was not missed by Will. Before he could respond, a splash caught their attention and the two turned as one to look at a sea creature that looked like a hybrid of a horse and a fish swimming alongside them, easily keeping pace with the flying chariot that was hovering just inches above the water. They sat in silence for a few moments, content to watch the Hippocampus swim.
"I miss Camp already." Will broke the silence, shifting next to Nico. "And my cabin." He turned his head to look at Nico, as if expecting some reply.
"I miss Jason," Nico ventured. "Even though he can be a pain and annoying." Nico turned to look at Will in the brief silence, noticing the blond raising an eyebrow. "What?"
"And this relationship between you and Jason is purely platonic?" Will questioned. Clarisse dared a glance over her shoulder and shrieked with laughter at the expression on Nico's face. Blackjack and the chariot veered sharply to the left as the reins slipped from her hands in her brief moment of laughter, nearly crashing into the Hippocampus which brayed loudly before splashing them with water and submerging.
"What about you, Clarisse?" Nico asked as the daughter of Ares corrected their course after nearly crushing a Hippocampus. "Do you miss anyone yet?"
Clarisse was silent for a moment, then: "Not really." She said simply. "It's great to get away from my cabin for a bit. It saves me a migraine. There's always an argument going on, it doesn't matter what time of day."
Nico silently wondered if Clarisse was the main cause of those arguments. Then he shook his head, realising that she probably was.
Nico was the first to spot the distant patch of land that was slowly coming closer to them. A quick map consultation told him they were approaching Puerto Rico, the first of their many short journeys on the route to Athens, and Nico suspected the growing bulk was the city of San Juan. He recalled the last time he had been there with some wariness – he had been switching between fighting and running for his life alongside Reyna and Coach Hedge with such rapidity that most of the events seemed blurred. He resolved to send an Iris message to the two once they landed to see how they were doing. Another problem presented itself, however.
"How're we going to get through Puerto Rico without going around? We'll be seen." He said, furrowing his brows in thought as he inspected the approaching land mass.
"The Mist'll hide us." Clarisse replied and she released the reins with one hand and waved the free hand through the air. Though nothing seemed to change, Nico could feel something about them was different and was impressed that Clarisse had mastered some level of Mist manipulation. Even Will looked impressed as he clapped Clarisse on the back and complimented her on her work.
They landed shortly on the outskirts of a small town on the very edge of Puerto Rico. Nico had to hand it to Clarisse – they had flown over San Juan and other cities without any incident, so her trick with the Mist had clearly worked. He made a note to learn how to manipulate the Mist at a later date, thinking of how useful it would be in the future. Blackjack had curled up on the ground after being unharnessed by Will and had quite quickly dozed off. Clarisse was busy pacing around the small enclosure they had landed in, searching through her various bags while Will was busy inspecting their supplies and pouring out water for Blackjack. Nico headed to the edge of the enclosure, intend on finding some way of creating a rainbow to send a message and stopped only to tell the others he was going for a walk.
He wandered aimlessly on a small path on a fruitless search for a puddle of water or anything he could use. After a few minutes, he found one and had just taken out a drachma when something heavy and fast slammed into his side. Nico swore, furious he had allowed something to sneak up on him and moved to unsheathe his sword. The thing – he looked up and recognised it to be an Empousa, if the celestial bronze leg was any indication – was quicker and let out a high pitched shriek that forced Nico to drop his sword before it advanced on him, kicking his sword far out of his reach. The she-demon raised a hand as it prepared to strike him, grinning, when an arrow thudded into the ground between her feet, startling her into dropping Nico. Another arrow embedded itself in the bark of a tree trunk just inches from the Empousa's head and she stepped back in shock.
Will emerged from behind a tree, looking at the two missed arrows with an expression of frustration. The Empousa looked him from head to toe before combing a hand through her hair.
"A son of Apollo? Well you're much nicer than a son of Hades." Her tone was playful, flirtatiously so. She combed her hand through her hair again, twirling one of the locks of blonde hair around her fingers. "Are you here to be my sunshine for the day?" Will cocked an arrow and took aim.
"Sorry lady, I don't swing that way." He grinned and released the string. The Empousa hissed in anger but was too slow in avoiding the arrow, and it struck her cleanly between the eyes. Will let out a triumphant yell, jumping and punching the air and whooping, stopping only to avoid Clarisse who had charged out of the bushes at that moment, screaming a war cry that sent shivers down Nico's back with a spear held menacingly high above her head. She stopped only when she spotted the pile of dust on the floor with an arrow lodged firmly in it and a look of frustration crossed her face.
"Jeez, Solace. Even if you don't swing that way you could've left one for me." As if to satisfy her bloodlust, she drove the spear into the centre of the pile of dust, dispersing it with a flick of her wrist. Will blushed but ignored her, retrieving Nico's sword and handing it back to him, taking great care not to touch the black blade. He knelt next to Nico, procuring a strip of bandage from seemingly nowhere and wrapping it tightly around the gash on Nico's arm where he had broken his fall, being relentlessly teased by Clarisse while he ministered to Nico's wound.
"It didn't take you that long bandaging that Lou Ellen girl, Solace." Even her tone was relentlessly teasing. "I wonder why Di Angelo gets special treatment." Will blushed again, the red tinge on his face clashing with the blond of his hair, making him look almost sunburnt for a moment, and stuttered back a slow "Shut it, La Rue." Clarisse merely cackled in response while Will pulled Nico to his feet and led the way back to the enclosure where Blackjack now stood, fully awake and pawing the ground nervously.
"We'll set off now and make camp when we get to our next stop point." Will said, taking charge of the reins without complaint from Clarisse. They settled quickly whilst Blackjack pawed the ground with increasing intensity, sniffing loudly every few seconds. Will tugged the reins and Blackjack – now glad to be moving again – took off immediately. Nico glanced down at the rapidly shrinking enclosure, only to see they had narrowly avoided being swarmed by a group of what looked like Empousai.
"Where is our next stop, exactly?" Nico questioned, returning his gaze to the front of the chariot. Will glanced over his shoulder and smiled, the sun behind his head amplified the colour of his hair and eyes to a startling intensity.
"Well, we're cutting through Venezuela and making a few breaks, but our next proper stop is Brazil, Di Angelo. We're going right to the edge of it, too, and then we're making camp." With that, Will spurred Blackjack on again and returned the direction of his gaze to ahead of the chariot. Nico watched as Puerto Rico shrank away from them and wondered just how intricate and complicated this route Will had planned truly was.