Chapter 3:
Nico sighed as he looked at the silent girl who refuses to talk about Percy, "Amalia, please, we are worried about Percy and we need to know to help him."
Amalia looked down and shuffled her feet, "I can't, I'm sorry."
Nico groaned and rubbed his eyes, this would be so much easier if he could just shadow travel in but something was blocking access to do such things, "How about this, can you convince him to let me in, you don't tell me anything, is that ok?"
Amalia looked up in realization before grinning, "Ok!"
She ran off with Nico trailing behind, maybe he could get his crush back into shape but if he did, would Percy go back to Annabeth, he liked Annabeth as a friend, yes, but seeing the two together still made is heart hurt and that wasn't a good thing for Nico.
"Percy! Can Nico come in?" Amalia chirped as she knocked on the door, going straight to the point.
A rustle was heard, "No."
Amalia pouted, "But he's worried about you and that's a bad thing Percy!"
"No."
"I will break this door down right now Percy if you don't let me in." Nico added and silence was heard.
"No. You already tried that."
"Reyna's coming."
"No."
"So is Frank and he can transform into an ant or something and come in."
"He can't."
"Why's that?"
"Barrier."
"Since when did you learn about barriers?"
"3 years old."
"And you still remember?"
"Yes."
"Why are you talking to me and not Annabeth?" Nico asked, realizing this predicament and silence was heard.
"I don't know."
Nico snorted and Amalia giggled and an indignant sound was heard from inside the cabin.
"Shut up."
"Are you hungry Percy?"
"No."
"But you haven't eaten for weeks!" Nico exclaimed, not noticing that Amalia slipped away not wanting to impose.
"So?"
"You must be hungry!"
"I have snacks."
"You need a proper meal!"
"No I don't."
"Yes you do!"
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Can I come in? The sun is roasting me alive and that's a bad thing." Nico asked tiredly and it was true, Apollo might be cheering him on but if he was, it was not needed.
Another rustle was heard, "Nico, I…can't."
"Why not?"
"Because, I…Nico, I can't let you come in."
"Percy! Please! I won't tell anyone! I won't think any different of you even if you're in a terrible, horrifying condition! I'm your friend Percy and even if you don't understand how I feel about you I still want to help you anyway I can! SO OPEN THE DOOR ALREADY! PLEASE PERCY!" Nico shouted with watery eyes, damn it, why did Percy of all people do this to him?!
A soft click was heard and Nico held his breath as the door slowly opened just enough for Percy to peek out with bloodshot eyes, Nico stared at him hopefully and they stayed like that for a few minutes when Percy started to open the door to let Percy in when a scream was heard, "PERSEUS JACKSON! OPEN THAT DAMN DOOR! HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO ANNABETH!"
Percy's eyes widened and slammed the door shut making Nico slump down in defeat before rising up angrily and stomped towards Reyna who was marching towards Percy's cabin with an army of Romans behind her.
"DAMN IT REYNA! I WAS SO CLOSE!" Nico shouted making Reyna and Romans halt in their progress before Reyna asked in disbelieve, "What?"
"HE ALMOST LET HIM IN YOU DUMB OR SOMETHING REYNA?!" Nico shouted which only infuriated Reyna who shouted back, "THEN HE SHOULD LET ANNABETH IN INSTEAD OF YOU!"
"AT LEAST I MADE PROGRESS!" Nico shouted.
"BUT ANNABETH IS HIS GIRLFRIEND!"
"EX-GIRLFRIEND!"
"I WON'T ALLOW THAT!"
"IT HAPPENED SO DEAL WITH IT!"
"I WILL NOT!"
"I WILL BREAK DOWN THAT DOOR AND MAKE HIM APOLOGIZE TO ANNABETH!"
"WHAT GOOD WOULD THAT DO REYNA?!"
"I'LL MAKE ANNABETH HAPPIER THAT'S FOR SURE!"
"WHAT ABOUT PERCY?!"
"PERCY STARTED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!"
"BUT IT WON'T MAKE HIM BETTER!"
"HE NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE!"
"NO HE DOESN'T!"
"YES HE DOES!"
"MOVE NICO I NEED TO BEAT SOME SENSE INTO PERCY!"
"I WILL NOT!"
"YOU WANT TO PLAY LIKE THAT?! FINE!" Reyna took out a sword and pointed it at Nico who just did the same, ready to fight for Percy until his death.
"I'll give you one last chance Nico." Reyna growled, "Move."
"I will not." Nico spat.
"Very well, you will regret not backing out Nico." Reyna rushed forward with her sword ready to attack.
Nico rushed forward too, "I doubt that Reyna."
The two swords clashed with the two wielders not backing down at all. They continued fighting gaining a crowd of campers, nymphs, Romans, satyrs, and others there. They fought so harshly that even Chiron couldn't even stop them. That was until a shouted was heard and a figure moved in between them holding out both hands out to each side telling them to stop fighting. But it wasn't that gesture that stopped them, it was the person itself.
"Percy." Nico breathed out as he stared at the shaking figure as if he couldn't even hold himself. Percy looked horrible, his clothes were crumbled and dirty, his hair was in disarray, he looked malnourished that you could practically see the curves of his bones. But that wasn't it; on Percy's back was a set of midnight black wings.
Percy looked up shakily to look at Nico and managed a strained smile, "Hey Nico." Percy then collapsed and passed out cold, the last thing he saw was Nico running towards him with worry all over his face.