Part Two: Chapter Seven: Bianca di Angelo

=Nico=

I strummed my fingers across the table irritably as I watched Percy and his chosen company. "A jealous Nico, never thought I'd see that." Hazel commented. She and Frank were across from me, Piper and Annabeth to Hazel's left, Leo and Calypso to Franks right. Next to me were Jason, Clarisse, Thalia and Reyna. Rachel had sat on the table nearest Annabeth and Reyna.

"I'm not-"

"You are." Piper cut me off, and I sighed. Percy was with the Stolls, his two companions and Ella. They were having a hushed conversation and eating breakfast. It was hard not to ignore. "I can tell you that there is nothing going on between your Sea Prince and any one of them."

"There is something happening between him and Katie." I stated through clenched teeth. "And he won't tell me. It's been a week since we left."

"Maybe he's not ready to tell?" Hazel questioned, she glanced over at the small group.

"I don't know… he's different." Leo commented. "Not as carefree as he used to be. I've never see him like this before. But it has been two years, a lot can happen."

"I've seen him like that." Rachel noted frowning. "Once, not to this extent but close."

"Back when we were just starting up." Clarisse agreed, her eyes turned onto the Sea Prince. "When we brought Rachel to our crew."

"I don't think I've heard that one." Annabeth commented. "You try to avoid it don't you?"

"I was molested," Rachel said quietly, "nearly raped before Percy and Clarisse rescued me. Percy was vengeful,"

"I've never seen him kill someone so heartlessly." Clarisse agreed. "First the driver of the coach, then the man." She frowned, her eyes fixing to Katie. The boy stopped and Percy got up. He made his way over to the table.

"Nico, care to join me on a trip through town?" He asked with a smile. I got up and followed him from the mess hall and up from under the deck. The town we were ported at was large and bustling with life. Together we walked from the deck and into the commotion. "So, Captain di Angelo," he eyed me as we walked. "What do you think?"

"Of what?" I wondered.

"Everything." He responded, "My friends, the voyage, this town," he waved his hand around.

"Your friends are… I don't know. They keep to themselves mostly. It's hard to say anything about them." He nodded.

"Jakes alright," he commented. "He's not good around people, but he can fight if he has too. Best on defense though. If the tradition's been kept, I'm sure you'll see next Thursday." He mused, they ducked around a Piano that was being moved through the street. "Katie's… well she's usually bossy and can take care of herself." He continued. "But she's shaken up, everything that's happened… She lost her home, her oldest friend, I know she's trying to be strong around everyone, but you can see it when you look at her. She's hurting."

"What happened?" I asked. He was silent for a bit, his eyes seemed to zone out and an expressionless mask covered him.

"It's not my place to say." He stated, "here we are." We stood in front of a large Inn. No one else seemed to notice it, but it was busy. I followed him inside and saw a small collection of Demigods, sitting at tables and tending to the bar. Percy walked over to it and took a seat, I joined him. He set down three golden Drachmas and slid them to the tender. "I'm looking for someone." His voice was quiet.

"You'll need more than this to find someone." The man stated, his blue eyes scanning Percy's face. Percy rested his hands on the counter, twisting some more coins between his fingers. "And I don't just go giving names to any stranger that comes in here."

"Well then let's get acquainted. I'm sure you've heard of The Huntress." The man snorted and leaned in, face to face with Percy.

"You ain't the Ghost King." Percy smiled pleasantly.

"I'm worse." His eyes glinted, "I'm the Prince of the Sea."

"Prove it." Behind him the beer kegs started groaning, beer started leaking out in a hissing fit. The man turned and was pelted in the face with a jet of it. "Alright, alright!" He grumbled, the water stopped attacking him and he grabbed a towel to dry himself. "Don't go breaking my beer kegs. What do you want."

"Zoe Nightshade, where is she?" The man paused in his drying, eyes greedily on the gold coin but debating with himself.

"Room 11." He finally said. Percy got up, dropping the coin and a few more onto the pile. I got up as well. "Your companion has to stay."

"I don't think you want the Ghost King hanging about your Inn alone, do you?" Percy asked, walking towards the staircase. I followed after. We made our way to room 11 and found the door ajar. Percy pushed it open and walked in, stepping over an unconscious man as if it was the most normal thing to do.

"Who. Sent. You?" I could see a girl, pinning another man to the ground. A cloth wrapped around his neck and held in each hand as she, pulled. His face was growing red.

"N-No one s-sen-" She tugged harder.

"Lier." She hissed.

"I'm sorry for interrupting." Percy noted, she looked up. Light brown eyes fixing on him, her skin was olive like my own, her hair dark brown and pulled into a braid. Her lips turned down into a frown. "I need your help."

"Give me a minute." She returned her attention to the man she was strangling. "If you value your life, you'll answer my question." She demanded of the man, his face was turning purple.

"C-Castellan s-sent us!" He choked out. She swore under her breath and loosened her grip, letting him breath before knocking him out.

"It seems we have a common enemy." Percy noted as she got up, wrapping the cloth around one of her hands.

"It's the fourth attack this month." She stated. "What do you need?"

"Luke kidnapped someone, I need to get him back." Percy answered.

"You're traveling with the Huntress?" She turned away and grabbing a dagger off the ground.

"Of course." Percy responded.

"Not interested."

"You owe me." He crossed his arms over his chest.

"That's low," she turned on him.

"I'm desperate." He responded. Her eyes fixed on me and she frowned, debating with herself. "Zoe I need your help."

"I don't go by Zoe anymore."

"Then what do you go by?" He asked. She was silent for a moment.

"Bianca." She finally said. "Bianca di Angelo." My eyes widened as I stared at her. This wasn't true… was it? My older sister? She did have the similarities but… no. I saw her die, burning with my mother in the house fire years ago. This can't be right.

"...you died." I whispered, staring. Her attention returned to me, her expression softened and she let her arms drop to her side. "How… I felt your spirit pass through to the Underworld." She shook her head.

"I barely made it out of the fire." She said quietly. "The men that burnt down our estate took me, I was a prisoner for months, then Percy raided the ship keeping me hostage. He brought me back but you and Hazel had already passed the mourning stage, you were moving on with your lives. So I left, joined Piper's crew." Her eyes turned away. "I'm sorry Nico." I felt my hands ball into fists as I glared at the floor.

"But you've… been alive all this time. Why did you stay away?!" I demanded. "It's been years, you should've returned! Stayed with us. We needed you."

"I couldn't face you," She countered. "I couldn't return and say that I survived but mom didn't. I should've died in that fire, why I'm still alive, why she didn't make it out. I couldn't…" I could hear her voice choking up, looking up I saw her holding herself. Trembling. "I didn't have answers, I needed them, I searched for them. But nothing came. The longer I looked, the longer I was away. The longer I was away, the harder it became to face you and Hazel." I stared at her, in the back of my mind something else clicked. This must be what Percy's been going through. He would've stayed away longer because he couldn't face anyone without the answers they'd demand of him. If he had the answers he would've returned sooner. If Luke hadn't gone after him… he wouldn't have returned at all. I moved forwards, bringing her into my arms and holding her close.

I remember when we were younger, she was so much bigger than me. But now I was easily taller, her face buried into my shoulder as she cried. I rubbed her back.

"I'll… meet you back at the ship." I heard Percy say, his voice dry, and his footsteps retreating from the room.