Chapter 21

~Nick~

That night I laid there cuddling with Nico. My Nico. I smiled, content with the turn my life had taken. I knew it couldn't last long. It never did. I was scared of losing him. I couldn't live without him. I had never had much to live for. Now Nico was the only thing keeping me on this side of the abyss, on this side of Death.

Nick, a voice said in my mind. Meet me behind the Hades cabin in two minutes. Don't be late. We haven't much time.

Well that certainly didn't take long. I could already feel my happiness crumbling. Like a wasted and used thing. Like a statue crumbling to the ground in a cloud of dust.

I wiggled my way free of Nico and made my way quietly out the door after slipping on my jeans. I didn't bother with a shirt. I may be scarred, but no one was awake to see. He already knew of my past. I couldn't believe he had found me. I had left Michigan far behind. Why was he…even doing here?

A black raven flew down next to me and transformed into my friend from another life. One I thought I had left behind. He had white skin but it was somewhere between my mocha colored and Nico's pale magnificence. He was clearly Native American and he was definitely attractive. He was Nico's age and his brown eyes flew over me, like he was reacquainting himself with every detail of me.

"Jamie Jacobs. The Gods only know why you're here."

"Nice to see you too…Dylan," He smirked.

I glared at him. "It's Nick, now. Dylan died."

His smirk faded replaced by a sad and haunted look, "I know," he said quietly, "I know why you're here. I talked to Nyx."

"Then you also know, I'm not coming back. This is my life. Now, I'd appreciate it if you left."

I turned, fully intending to go back inside and be with Nico, but Jamie stopped me, pulling me in by the wrist.

"Does he know?" he all but breathed.

"Of course he doesn't know. I don't know he'd react to that."

"Dylan…if you truly love him…he needs to know. Can you imagine how Nia would feel in this situation?"

My eyes darkened and I felt the power I had given up, begin to resurface. I couldn't think of him. It was too much, too dangerous.

"He'd be furious. Might even leave me." I said fear flooding my veins like ice water, "You will never speak of him again. You don't have that right."

I stormed away, fuming. I heard the caw of a raven, but I didn't look back. I knew he had come and said what he needed to. Damn him. He was right. Jamie was usually right. I needed to tell Nico, but I might lose him if I did. He was the one person I couldn't lie to. Like Nia. I had to be honest, no matter the consequences. That's what Rachel had said too, "I have seen your truths. Do not hurt him. Son of Night."

I stood outside the Hades cabin, collecting my nerve for what needed to be done.

"Nick?"

I whirled around, "Nico."

I felt my pulse quicken and he wrapped his arms around me, "Come back to bed…What's wrong?" he said frowning.

This was it. I need to do it now. Don't think about it, just do it.

"Nico…we need to talk. You have to promise to tell no one. Not a soul." I said, serious beyond belief.

Nico shrugged, "Anything for you." He blushed with that statement, God's I couldn't lose him.

I took him inside and turned on the lights. The cabin was cast in a magical, or ethereal glow.

"There are something's you should know about me. I'm not who you think I am Nico."

Nico pulled away from me, "Nick…I don't understand. What do you mean?"

I sucked in a pained breath, "For starters. My name hasn't always been Nick. I was born Dylan Ryder."

Nico looked close to panic, "Explain yourself. Now!"

"When I was in that mental institution. I roomed with a monster named Dylan. He was a storm spirit. After he confirmed who and what I was…he would stop at nothing to kill me. Nyx changed my name to try and shield me from his wrath…we…grew close after a while."

I cleared my throat, "Children of the Primordial Gods and Goddesses…we have our own place. Like Camp-half-blood or Camp Jupiter. We live in harmony, between the worlds of technology and magic. It's why I can move things with my mind. Although, originally my…other powers were more like Jason's. I controlled the weather. I created it. I gave up that power when-"my voice broke, "when my boyfriend was killed."

Nico watched me with pained eyes, it didn't look like he really believed me. Or maybe he was just trying to process this new information.

"He-he was a child of Erebus. Of darkness. When he died, his power…stayed with me. He was the one who could control shadows. Umbrakenesis he called it. I was a leader among my people, but when I couldn't deal with that pressure, when Nia died… Nyx created a new life for me. I became her demigod son."

I paused a moment thinking back to those times, it hurt like a knife. I struggled to breathe.

"When you saved me in the Underworld, I fell in love with you. Not only did you remind me of him, of Nia. But you were your own person. I loved that most about you. Nia was always so vindictive, vengeful…dangerous. You are so completely innocent, so pure. You're like an angel."

I began sobbing quietly, I had never spoken of these feelings. The events that led me here. The life I had left behind. Not to anyone.

"I know how hard this is to believe. I know you probably don't trust me or maybe you're mad at me. But just know. I couldn't lie to you. I needed to tell you, even though I knew I might lose you. I need you to love me for me. Not the person Nyx made me. I need you. I can't-I can't live without you."

Nico stood there in shock, he shook his head, "Was anything of your old life you told me true?"

"Of course. It was all true."

He laughed menacingly, "I find that hard to believe."

He turned away rushing for the door.

"Nico! Please, please don't go." I said, fresh tears flowing from my face.

"I'm sorry…Nick…Dylan…whoever you are. I need time to think."

"I'll always love you," I told his retreating form as he ran, ran, ran away.

Gods, what had I done? Had he even heard me? I fumbled in my hoodie. I finally found my knife. Flicking it open, I tried to calm my fear, my crushing despair. I tried to calm the beast inside me. I didn't want to feel, I didn't want to be. What the hell have I done?

I slashed the knife expertly across my arm. I felt the sting and the momentary calm. I saw the red blossom to the surface. I cut a few more times trying to quench the storm that now raged inside me.

I needed someone to talk to. To make sense of things. But who could I trust? I stowed the knife away, now calm enough to at least think.

Rachel, she knows. I can talk to her. I wonder if she knew this would happen, if she had foreseen this and that was why she had done what she had. So I had a safe place to go? But why would she care? She didn't even know me really. I suddenly felt so alone.

I also knew I had no choice, Rachel was my only option. I picked up my hoodie off the floor and shoved it on. I ran out of the cabin zipping it up. I had to get to the big house. I had to find Rachel.

A/N: So…you probably weren't expecting that. What will Nico do? How is he feeling? What is he thinking? What is all this business with injured demigods? Demigods attacking demigods? What about Nick/Dylan? Will Nick and Nico still be together? What of the shadows, the shades? Who is the new enemy lurking in the shadows? Please review. I want to know what you all think. Thanks for all the favorites and follows. How do you like the story thus far? On a side note, how would like a completely human PJO fic? Or I'm thinking a boarding school or Academy for supernatural high-schoolers? I'll let the readers decide. Is it a good idea? Would you read it? Thanks all.