::Chapter twelve::

::I am Understood::

Nico Di Angelo's POV.

We arrived a couple minutes later. "That felt like it was only a few hours." I said.

Annabeth gave Kai a disapproving look and said, "That's because it was only one and a half hours…"

Kai shrugged innocently as we went into the big house. Some Ares kids were guarding the perimeter of camp. As we went into the big house.

To be greeted by Chiron, "Ah! Welcome back…how'd you get here so fast?" Kai smiled innocently.

Mr. D came out with a grunt, "Well we're all happy to see you blah, blah, blah, welcome back Miko, Nicky, Perry, Annie-bell." We were all pretty much used to Mr. D's annoying habit of wrong names. Personally, I didn't think it was a habit, I think he just did it to make himself feel like he was actually doing something with his unnecessary immortal life! For some reason I just really didn't like him…not that many campers, animals, Gods, or people did…

Nikai Laskaris's POV.

I woke up this morning as usual the sun gleaming down threw the windows waking me from my slumber and being my usual irritably morning self I threw a book at the window breaking it as I turned over slapping the pillow back over my face. It was about an hour later, which to me felt like two seconds, when the pounding on the door was heard; "WAKE UP KAI! IT'S BREAKFAST!" I heard Percy's voice shouting from the other side of the door as he pounded repeatedly on the door.

"GO THE F AWAY!" I shouted angrily my voice muffled from the soft pillow my head was currently cradled within. Finally the door burst open as a kid from Ares cabin bust down the door. I began cussing them off in Greek totally flipping out. I couldn't recognize many people at all any more seeing as ever since Percy made that request camp half-blood had been flooded with people. I could've sworn on Hades they'd multiplied by fifteen since last time! Now that so many people were here it was often quite violent at times but Mr. D didn't seem to give a crap, not that he ever did give a crap.

Chiron didn't mind much either as long was no one was seriously maimed but that shouldn't count for me seeing as I never bothered to pay attention to what the word "maim" means. For all I know it could mean, "Turned into a marshmallow" so as long as I don't turn any one into a marshmallow no one should care right? But as I beat up the Ares kid I found out that maim didn't mean "Turned into a marshmallow"

Mr. D came out with his usual nonchalant expression he called, "Nichole Licorice!"

"So~Maim doesn't mean 'turned into a marshmallow?'" I asked sardonically. Chiron sighed used to my morning behavior after all I'd been here since I was five.

"No, Maim means, to severely injure someone or something." Chiron explained patiently.

I said, "So, seeing as I severely injured that something and I didn't really know what maim means do I still have a punishment?"

Mr. D looked at me skeptically and said, "You'll be serving night monster probation with Miko Mi Jell-O over the weekend." Pointing to Nico who glared at Mr. D with hating eyes.

As he shouted, "IT'S NICO DI ANGELO!" He shouted angrily. As he glared at Mr. D I did the same with my own eyes. "Yeah, whatever." I muttered as Nico and I walked out,

"What'd you do?" I asked him.

He smirked and said, "Some Eris kid was giving me crap so I…roasted, their clothes…a little…" I laughed as I told him what I did.

Everyone was rushing around preparing for the war that was soon to come. Rachel had foreseen it on the coming Saturday. Just like before, that night as I stood alone in the forest. "Hey…thanks. I think I may have finally found where I belong Zeno. I've missed you so much, each year felt so empty without you, with only simple sparks of happiness. But now that he's here…I feel much better…" I spoke to the stars, "He's so much like you…please, help me win…I'm going to be strong for you, for them all…I promise you."

I began to sing. I remember I fist began to sing because of him…he liked it when I sung, so I sang. For him… "Sometimes…it's embarrassing…to talk to you. To hold a conversation with the only one who sees right threw, this version of myself I try to hide behind. I'll bury my face because my disgrace will leave me terrified." I am understood by Relient K. "And sometimes, I'm so thankful for your loyalty. Your love regardless of the mistakes I've made will spoil me. My confidence is, in a sense a gift you've given me. And I'm satisfied to realize you're all I ever need. You looked into my life and never stopped. And you're thinking all my thoughts. Are so simple, but so beautiful. And you recite my words right back to me. Before I even speak. You let me know, I am understood. And sometimes I spend my time. Just trying to escape. I work so hard so desperately, in an attempt to create space. Cause I want distance from the utmost important thing I know. I see your love, then turn my back and beg for you to go…" I finished smiling up to the sky. I knew he was always there for me…

"Thanks Zeno…" I spoke when another voice asked from behind, "Miss me that much huh?" I jolted around to see…no way, it wasn't possible! "N-No way…" I muttered, his dark electric blue eyes as vibrant as ever, his jet black hair in a new more skater boy style and as his lips curved into that perfect smirk…I knew…it was him…

"Z-Zeno?" I questioned.

He laughed at my expression and said, "Who else dummy…" I just gapped. He looked older now, around fourteen. Though I knew…he was much older. B-But…he wasn't a ghost…he was flesh and blood. HOW?! I suddenly heard a rustling and turned around. NICO!

"Geez! Stop doing that! You really have a bad habit of appearing out of nowhere…" He shrugged as he asked in a jealous manor, "Who's he?" and waited for an answer.

"Zeno Sanna…h-he's…a really, really, really, really, old friend." Zeno was a child of Zeus…the first demi-god child of Zeus…suddenly all of it just came rushing back like an unstoppable dam just waiting to burst…and it finally had…he was really here…but how!?