"I really don't like this. There's something else going on here." Jason mumbled, playing with his fork as they got closer to Rome.
"It doesn't matter. We can't leave him to die." Hazel weakly glared at him.
"And he knows where the Doors of Death are." Annabeth admitted. "We need him."
"What if we lose someone while-"
"We won't." Annabeth persisted. "We have a good team. We've got this."
Percy stayed quiet, staring down at his plate mournfully. If Nico had fully sided with them, no one was coming back alive. The boy was just too powerful.
"And even if it's risky, we can't leave a fellow demigod behind." Frank added. "That's just wrong."
Percy nodded slowly, agreeing wholeheartedly. Even if Nico was bad, he was a demigod. And if they didn't come, who knew what they would do to him. "I agree with Frank."
"That's because you know him. I'm not going to die for someone I've never met." Leo glanced at Hazel. "I'm sorry, but that's true."
"No one is dying." Annabeth repeated. "So you're coming with us. I'm the leader of this quest, remember? Jason, you're coming, too. If Nico's too weak to shadow travel out, we're going to need your flying skills."
Hazel wiped her eyes quickly. "So we're really getting him?"
Annabeth nodded, giving her a small smile. "How much longer to Rome, then?" she asked, looking to Leo.
He shrugged. "Couple minutes. Festus said there's a lot of magic working around here, so it's taking longer than usual."
"So stay on high alert." Annabeth got up. "Make sure you have your weapons and the likes. Someone bring ambrosia and nectar."
Piper nodded, going to the cupboard to get it. "We don't have much left."
Annabeth frowned. "U-uh…just take it anyways."
Percy came up to her as everyone dispensed, gently touching her arm. "Annabeth?"
"Huh?" she turned to look at him, her hair falling out of her messy ponytail. What's up? Please tell me you didn't manage to lose Riptide."
"No, not that. I'm not that stupid." Percy acted offended. "Well, we do call you Seaweed Brain." Annabeth admitted.
"Annabeth, I…I have a really bad feeling about this." Percy looked down in guilt.
"A dream?"
He nodded.
"I trust you. Do you really think we shouldn't do it?" Annabeth asked.
"No," Percy looked up at her. "I'm just saying. Nico…has a lot more going on than being captured."
"You think he's worker for the other side?" Annabeth asked quietly. "I know it wouldn't be the first time, but I thought he got better. I was hoping he got better."
"I'm not sure, Annie. I know you're friends but I'm just letting you know." She nodded, biting her lip. "Okay…okay. Let's get up on deck."
Percy nodded, following her. The feeling didn't go away, but he felt better after telling her. Somehow, that made him less worried.
And that made him more scared.
"Ready for the best kidnapping of a prisoner ever?!" Leo greeted, his fists in the air.
"Don't talk about him like that." Annabeth snapped, a hand on her dagger. "He's not that helpless."
Leo immediately deflated, going back to the wheel.
"He didn't mean it like that." Percy quietly.
"I know…" Annabeth looked down. "But…I shot him. And instead of killing me when he got the chance, he got up and helped me search the ends of the earth for you, even when he could barely get out of bed."
"He's a good kid." Percy summed up. "You're scared to see what they did to him."
"Yeah…" Annabeth looked down.
"He's alive. That's what matters." Percy grabbed her hand, smiling sadly. "Okay?"
"Okay."