Chapter 9
Percy froze. "What?"
Nico sighed, looking at the ground. "She came into my cabin and woke me up."
"When?"
"Three." No wonder why Nico looked so tired.
"What did she tell you?" Percy asked, pacing around the cabin.
Nico winced. "Percy, you have to understand, I would have talked to you about it sooner, but she made it sound like you knew she was leaving. I'm sorry."
Percy realized he was evading the question. "Nico, what did she say?"
"She said she was going on a quest. And that-"
Percy grit his teeth. "And what, Nico?"
Nico closed his eyes. "And that I have to stop you from following her."
Percy felt like his heart had stopped working. It was bad enough that Annabeth had left without telling him, but asking Nico to stop him from following her was a death or breakup note. And more importantly, Annabeth could be in danger.
Nico snapped his fingers under Percy's nose. "Percy, snap out of it. I'm not going to keep you from following Annabeth."
Somehow these words lifted a weight off of Percy's shoulders. "You aren't?"
Nico shook his head. "No. I was at first when she told me, but now that I know what is really going on I think you have to go. She could be in trouble."
Percy just stood there, too shocked to do anything. To Nico's credit, he didn't run away, like Well, I told you so now it is your problem. He just stood there patiently.
Until suddenly he gasped and almost collapsed. Luckily Percy grabbed his arm and led him to a chair.
Percy tried to get his attention. "Nico," He called.
Nico's eyes stayed unfocused, and Percy was afraid he was having somesort of stroke. "Nico, I'm gonna go get Will."
Percy had almost reached the door when Nico called out, "Wait." Nico's breathing returned to normal, and his eyes went back to normal. "While you were thinking, I was checking mentally to see if Annabeth's spirit was in the underworld. I was afraid she might have been dead."
The edges of Percy's vision went black. He heard himself whisper, "Is she... is she... dead?"
Nico fidgeted with his fingers. "She is in a state between the dead and the living. Like a coma."
Percy must have looked confused. Nico checked what he had said, and rushed to make things more optimistic. "She isn't dead."
Percy didn't hear Nico whisper softly, "Yet."
