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Chapter 11 - Nightmares of A King

Nico runs at full pelt towards Gaia's soldiers. His black armour now feels heavy with his exhaustion and tight from fear. The battlefield has become an all-out theatre of war

Swords clash with the fury of raging storms as demigods fight with blood, sweat, and tears on their faces. Every one desperate to keep their parents in power. Nico dives forward, plunging his Stygian blade through his opponent's chest. His hand drenches with red, but in the next moment the Ghost King pushes the soldier's corpse to the ground with his boot.

The kill gives him the chance to continue forward to where Percy had disappeared in pursuit of Gaia. As he runs, the shadows become his allies, fighting off the foolish soldiers that try to attack him. Nico passes over marble floors scorched with fires and painted with blood. Some of columns supporting the building remain, holding up a weight that birthed cracks in their structure. The roof fared little better, but Nico couldn't care less if the building was about to collapse, he had to find the son of Poseidon. He skids to a stop in front of the arch leading to Gaia's throne room and screams.

Percy lays unmoving on the floor, his blood caking the familiar orange t-shirt he wears. Nico moves, he doesn't think and Gaia turns holding her sword high to meet the son of Hades in combat. Titanium clashes with iron. Again and again and again. Nico doesn't risk a glance at Percy's lifeless body, doesn't want to believe what he sees.

The son of Hade's eyes drip with hate for the primordial goddess in front of him as he swings his swords over and over. He freezes shocked as a silver blade erupts from her chest, narrowly missing him. Nico watches as she turns to dust and the sword which delivered the final blow clutters to the ground.

In front of Nico, Percy half stands, half curls in on himself.

Blood oozes from his stomach and falls onto white marble. He blinks but doesn't open his eyes, before crashing forward. Nico moves quicker, catching Percy before he hits the floor and pulling the son of Poseidon to lay into his arms. More red coats Nico, but between shaky breaths, he can hardly bring himself to care. He tugs the older boy closer to his chest and cries out his name. Feeling faint breathes on his neck, the son of Hades looks to those eyes that clash somewhere between green and blue and smiles so falsely his soul hurts.

"You did it, Percy. You killed her. It's over. Everyone can go home. Now." He speaks in broken sentences, watching as hazy eyes blink sluggish to settle on his face. "You've got to get up, Percy. And back to camp. To see Annabeth and-"

Slowly, agonising, Percy holds up his hand and presses his fingertips to Nico's lips.

"Don't want. . . To see Wise. . . Girl." He slurs, more blood pooling in his mouth and spilling out over the corners. "Wanted. . .To see you." He beams weakly. "I'm, I'm sorry. . . But it's. . . . . .okay. . . I'm gonna see. . . Bianca. . . And tell her. . ." He coughs and splutters. ". . . . . .I'm sorry for failing. . . her. . ." The son of Poseidon chokes on another smile as his eyes slip half-shut.

Nico cries, unable to hold back his tears and shakes Percy's prone form. "No, no you don't, you idiot. I don't need your apologises, B-Bianca doesn't want them either. You can't give up! Not yet, I need you!" He confesses. It's too late.

For all his trying, all his begging, Nico howls in pain as a pop sounds in his ears. He screams, and cries, and battles all the demons inside his head that are winning. He's acutely aware of footsteps, of how he's bent over Percy's dead body on his hands and knees.

Gentle arms wrap round his torso, pulling him away and sweet nothings fill his ears. He sees blond hair and grief-stricken blue eyes.

"Jason. . . " Nico whispers brokenly. "I. . . I. . ."

The arms around him don't let go as words fail him. The son of Hades swivels in Jason's hold and cries into the roman's shoulder. He hears Annabeth's cries and Reyna's shaky breathes. The three of them must be the first to arrive, they were too late to say goodbye. Nico screams himself unconscious, but doesn't forget the tears that fall from Jason's face onto him.

The son of Hades woke up in a prison of blankets, he twisted and turned but was unable to escape. In panic, shadows wrapped round his body and pulled him into the safety of darkness. He heard a terrified shriek and jerked away as he searched for the source. It was none other than Hazel in her own bed.

His eyes must have given away his plight, because his little sister wasted no time falling to the floor and wrapping her arms round his neck.

"It's okay, Nico. It's okay, it's just a dream. It's gonna be fine, I'm here now." She cooed, running her fingers through his dark hair. "Whatever it was, it's over now."

Slowly, Nico reciprocated the hug. Pulling her closer and ignoring how her hair itched his cheek as he tried to calm down. They sat perfectly still for a minute with only Hazel's soft voice humming a tune he did not recognise. But soon enough, Nico felt ready to let go. Reluctantly, the daughter of Pluto followed his lead, then cupped his hands in her own.

"What happened, Nico?" She asked softly, scared herself of what shaken her brother so.

It was only when Jason barged through the closed bedroom door, sword in hand, and ready to defend Hazel after hearing her yell, that Nico begun to cry again.

Because Percy died. That's what happened. And no one can fix it.

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