Three months before The Giant War:
Kian's P.O.V
Kian stared at the borders of the Roman camp from a distance, his mind stuck at a crossroad.
What even was the point any more? His mother was dead, his sister was dead; his dad wasn't, nor would he ever be in the picture.
What was some Roman demigod camp going to do? Make him train, fight wars, go on quests?
That wasn't a life for him, no. A life for him was revenge, revenge for his sister, for his mother.
Kian glared down at his hands as if he could see the uselessness that oozed from his pores.
Some would say he was just being selfish, that he wasn't doing what his family would want him to. But to be honest , he didn't care about people's opinions, his family would want to be alive and having fun, not buried six feet under. Their opinions didn't matter, not the homeless guy's, not the grey old women's and especially not Nico Di Angelo's opinions.
That boy could be as high and mighty as he wanted, he could blame anyone else but himself. But Kian knew the truth, he knew that Di Angelo could've saved her, he was just a coward.
And what do cowards get?
They get punished; they suffer.
Kian vowed in that moment of pure malice, that Di Angelo would pay.
With his love, or with his life.
Whichever it was, Di Angelo would suffer like him.
Nico's P.O.V
'Are you alright?'
"Yeah, sorry I was just thinking about Bianca," Nico lied bitterly.
"Okay, well then I need help for the campfire song tonight," Will said disbelievingly, sitting down in the chair; facing him with an overly cheery smile.
"Seriously, my help?" Nico asked, fiddling awkwardly with his hands.
"Yes. I need ideas for a song," Will said, staring at Nico hopefully.
"Isn't my music a bit too down for a campfire just after a war?" Nico asked.
"You've got to have some happy song to give me!" Will grumbled exasperated.
"Give me a sec to think, before you kill me." Nico said placatingly.
"Fine," Will mumbled, he was clearly frustrated.
Nico fumbled with his iPod for a few seconds, flicking through his playlist. He skipped through most of them looking for a particular song in the middle.
Will looked at him expectantly, Nico sighed and pressed play.
"This sinking feeling sets,
It feels just like a hole inside your chest.
I know you're thinking,
No, no, no, no, it is easier said than done,
But please let me attest.
I know it's hard.
You're feeling like you're trapped,
But that's how you react,
When you cannot see the light.
But try and see the light.
I'm tellin' you,
No, no, no, no,
You're the only one
Standing in your way,
Just take a breath, relax, and tell me…"
Will hummed along to the music for awhile, before breaking into a retina burning grin.
"You have taste in music!" Will said grinning like he was high on cocaine.
"Why I still force myself to stay here is worrying," Nico mumbled, looking up at the sky pleadingly.
"Oh shut it Di Angelo, you just enjoy my company. The song's Why Worry by Set It Off, right?" Will asked.
"Yup," Nico said popping the 'p.'
"Good. I have to practice; you're coming to this campfire!" Will said firmly.
"You know I would if I could, but I'm not sure hospital attire is exactly the right outfit for a campfire." Nico grumbled dryly.
"Oh you mean the IV. I can just disconnect the tubing and leave the needle in, saves me having to stick it in there again." Will said. "Anyway I'm going to go get my siblings practising, later Di Angelo."
Nico blinked blankly as Will skipped out of the room, realisation dawning upon him.
"I refuse to go to this campfire in a dress! Damnit Solace!" Nico seethed, glaring at the spot where Will had been sitting.
"Bastard," Nico grumbled.
He refused to stay if Percy broke out into SpongeBob's Campfire song.
7:00pm.
Will's P.O.V
Will cackled maniacally, as his siblings eyed him wearily.
"Again from the top! It must be perfect," Will shouted, smirking when everyone looked at their chosen instruments in disgust.
"Seriously, Will?" Wyatt sighed, "It's not like anyone will care, they'll probably run off from Percy's overexcitement."
"Wyatt, I swear to Apollo if I hear you speak one more time, I will show everyone that video of you singing Abba's SOS!" Will threatened, effectively shutting Wyatt up.
"I'm being quiet now," Wyatt mumbled, picking up his bongos.
"Good, now from the top!" Will shouted, ignoring everyone's groans.
"Save those groans for later, now make some noise!" Will shouted.
"3…"
"2…"
"1…"
8:45
Will rushed around the campfire, setting up chairs, grabbing guitars and bossing people around.
He looked around grinning as people started to filter in, even though it was only 8:45. Will placed Wyatt's bongos down, and was about to take a seat when a thought struck him.
Nico freaking Di Angelo.
Will turned around and darted towards the infirmary, grinning evilly.
"Nico!" Will shouted through the infirmary, taunting the poor kid.
"Damnit Solace! Curse your memory!" Nico shouted, a snarl on his face as Will came in.
"Oh Nico darling, don't be like that." Will drawled put in a bad posh female accent.
"Zeus' beard, please never do that again," Nico pleaded horrified, as Will.
"Darling, you know you enjoy it," Will said creepily, disconnecting the tube from Nico's hand and fiddling with the IV so it didn't drip on the floor.
"I'll go to the campfire, I swear, if you stop with the voice," Nico pleaded.
"Good," Will said returning to his normal voice.
Will pulled Nico up, bouncing around excitedly.
"Solace stop. Gods, your happiness is tainting the air," Nico said, pretending to cough.
"I'm hurt," Will said pouting.
Will eyed Nico critically; and then looked out the window worriedly.
It looked cold tonight.
"Do I have to wear this?" Nico asked, staring down at his clothing embarrassed.
"Yes, I'll grab some blankets or something, it looks cold." Will said, bounding over towards the cupboard and pulled out two pale blue hospital issued blankets.
Will laughed loudly, as he heard Nico muttering about mother hens and pointless events.
He was still chuckling as he walked behind a slow-walking Nico.
Nico's P.O.V
Nico grumbled incoherently under his breathe as Will forced him to sit in a chair beside an overly excited Jason and Percy.
Oh gods.
"No. Sit and stay, comprende?" Will said.
"Sì," Nico replied sarcastically.
Will nodded before bounding back towards the Apollo cabin, leaving him to suffer.
"So how are you and Will going?" Jason asked, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
"There's nothing going, in fact it's stopping. Got it Jason?" Nico squeaked, a blush heating his cheeks.
"Aww, is wittle Nico embarrassed?" Jason asked.
"Gods, Jason stop! Ah!" Nico seethed, slouching into his bundle of blankets grumpily.
Percy's eyes widened, as he caught onto Jason's and Nico's conversation.
"Oh, so he's your type?" Percy grumbled, pouting at Nico.
"Shut it, seaweed brain!" Annabeth shouted from the other side of the campfire.
Damn, that girl had good hearing.
Nico was sure Percy was about to say something, but he was interrupted by Will's booming voice.
"Evening fellow campers, does the Apollo cabin have a performance for you tonight!" Will shouted walking out of the cabin and grabbing everyone's attention.
Nico sunk further into his seat, already dreading the night.
"Are you all ready?" Will asked, earning shouts to hurry up.
"Well then, Wyatt and the rest of you get out here!" Will screamed.
Nico recognised Wyatt, Sterling, Austin and Kayla as they ran out; the other Apollo children just sat around the front on the ground. He watched as mildly interested as Wyatt picked up the bongos while Austin and Kayla picked up their guitars.
It appeared Will and Sterling were going to be singing. Zeus, save their precious eardrums.
"Don't be afraid to join in guys," Sterling shouted enthusiastically.
Nico could all but watch in horror as Wyatt started the beat, leading in Kayla and Austin.
Will started to sing and boy, was Nico wrong. Because yes, that lying bastard could sing.
"Why?
Please tell me why do we worry?
Why?
Why do we worry at all?
Why?
Just tell me why do we worry?
When worry is never helping tell me
Why?
Why worry at all?"
The tune was surpassingly catchy sung in acoustic and Nico all but found himself singing with the others, a small smile playing out on his face. As the song continued, he could barely hear the Sterling and Will, everybody else was so loud.
Campfires weren't all that bad.
The song ended as Wyatt played the last beat and Nico found himself sad.
"Okay we have two more songs tonight; yes, sadly it is Percy and Jason singing the campfire song from SpongeBob," Will said, still grinning widely.
Nico groaned as Jason and Percy got up excitedly, Jason taking the guitar from Kayla.
When did Jason become experienced with a guitar?
"Let's do this guys, as loud as we can!" Percy shouted.
Nico groaned, preparing for his patience to vanish with a pop.
Percy all but shouted out the lyrics, deafening everyone within the vicinity.
"Lets gather around the campfire
And sing our campfire song
Our C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E S-O-N-G song
And if you don't think that we can sing it faster then you're wrong
But it'll help if you just sing along
C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E S-O-N-G song
C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E S-O-N-G song
And if you don't think that we can sing it faster then you're wrong
But it'll help if you just sing along"
Nico uncovered his ears, as the shouting dissipated; Jason and Percy sat back in their seats with a thump.
"Okay guys, for our last performance we have Kayla singing an Irish folk song. What's it called again, Kayla. Parting class?" Will asked, turning to face a glowering Katie.
"Oh can it Will, you know what it's called. Most of you'll probably know it anyway, if you've watched The Walking Dead." Kayla said, picking up her guitar.
"Oh all the money that e'er I spent
I spent it in good company
And all the harm that e'er I've done
Alas, it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Goodnight and joy be with you all
Oh all the comrades that e'er I've had
Are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I've had
Would wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call
Goodnight and joy be with you all"
Nico choked as the song registered in his ears, gods seriously. What did that world have against him? It was like everything set out to remind him of her. It was like losing his sister all over again, Eva was a friend like no other.
Nico looked down sadly as Kayla packed up her guitar and sat next to her brother, Austin.
Will stood up to speak, when loud, slow clapping interrupted him.
"Really well done, half-blooooodddsss," A voice hissed from the shadows.
"Really. Your musssiiic is truly lovely, it brings a tear to the eye doesn't it, son of Hades?"
Nico glanced towards the shadows, furrowing his eyebrows as the stranger directed the question at him. He stood up on wobbly legs, ignoring Will, Jason and Percy's looks of concern.
"Who are you? How do you know me?" Nico hissed.
"Who I am is not important. How I know you? That is for another time, but this might help." The stranger hissed, vanishing as quickly as he had came.
Nico looked around confusedly, till he spotted the parchment paper left on the ground.
He began to walk over to it, but Percy bet him to it. Percy picked up the paper and read the note, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"What does it say Percy?" Someone shouted from the crowd.
"That's the thing, it doesn't really say much," Percy said, glancing at the back of the paper to double check.
"Oh just read it Jackson!" Clarisse shouted exasperated, from somewhere.
Percy cleared his throat awkwardly, before reading out the prophecy.
"The world will rise from the dark of a war told aeons ago.
Only to set forth a deadly course.
Bring forth a Boy of shadows,
Guided by one of opposite powers, a boy of light.
The world will fall in a fire so bright,
If one cannot overcome their internal plight.
But beware thee who calls you a friend,
As with all things friendship must come to an end."
Nico stared unblinkingly running the words over in his head, as other people shouted out complaints of confusion. Even Chiron who had remained quiet throughout the whole event, seemed confused.
Only one sentence truly stuck in the recesses of his mind.
But beware thee who calls you a friend.
Theoretically Nico was making assumptions, but he knew who that friend was, no matter how many times he would deny it.
Fate had an ironic fetish with mucking up his life.