So here's the next chapter. This story is getting really intense, you guys. The plot's heating up. Be ready.
Chapter 26
"Son," Hades bellowed. "I have news."
"Dad... If it's not important, I'm pretty busy right now. So if it's not a problem..."
"Silence! Would you not like to hear the whereabouts of your sister? I have information that might help you and your, err... sunny friend." The god shook his head.
"Where is she?" Nico trembled. "Is she okay?"
"I can sense her presence in my realm, the underworld. You see, I would go after Tisiphone and rescue her, but that would mean I would have to acknowledge her existence. My son, Hazel is not okay. She isn't supposed to be alive! However, she is my daughter and I care about her very much. You must find her quickly, for Tartarus stirs as we speak. My domain can't handle another uprising. As for the mortal world... If the doors open, this time it will be nearly impossible to close them. The camps will parish. It will be an uphill battle. Your kind is strong, Nico, but you are not immortal. Killing monsters is hard enough, but if they won't stay dead... I'm afraid you will fight a losing war."
"Alright," Nico nodded. "We'll be there soon. As for the doors... how do we prevent them from opening?" His father shook his head.
"There is no preventing it," The God stirred. "For the Doors of Death have already opened."
Nico's eyes burst open, only to see darkness. To his left, the son of Apollo was sleeping calmly, or as calmly as he could, considering the end of the world was upon them. He considered waking him to tell him about his meeting with his father, but he couldn't bring himself to erase the peaceful expression on Will's face. The son of Hades climbed out of bed as quietly as he could, and then tip-toed up the stairs.
The attic was cramped, but it was the only place Nico felt truly isolated. He sat on the bags of extra supplies and ran his hands through his recently cut hair. He felt as if all of is hopes had shattered at once; hope of survival, hope of glory. The hot tears trickled down his pale face. It was like a dam broke in his mind and all of his secrets, his sadness, his sorrows, spilled out through his eyes. How could he let this happen? He should have watched Hazel. He shouldn't have let the doors open. It was all his fault. And now, he had led Will, the only boy he ever loved, into a death trap. If Will died, Nico would die, just as he did after Bianca passed. If Nico died, he would leave Will alone, and no matter how much his dad would pamper him, there would still be a part of his heart missing.
"Nico!" Will cried. "I didn't know where you went! I just woke up and you weren't there and- Hey, wait. Are you okay?" Nico lifted his tear-stained face from his hands.
"Do I look okay?" He croaked. Will inched towards him and sat down. The older boy took him into his arms.
"You can tell me what happened. It's okay."
"I," Nico tried. "I met with my dad, and he told me where Hazel was," Will nodded. "She's in the underworld. And we'll have to kill Tisiphone to get to her, which would be bad enough if she was going to stay dead. Will, the Doors of Death have opened. My dad said it'll be nearly impossible to close them. He says we're fighting a losing battle. I just don't want to lose Hazel. I don't want to lose anyone at either camp. I don't want to lose you..." His words came out in a long sob.
"You wont lose us... I promise." Will paused. "And doctor's never lie."
"You don't get it, do you? We're going to the underworld! You're like sunshine and life and you'll be dead before I can say goodbye. If I lose you... I'll have nothing. But, I can't fight Tisiphone alone," Nico choked. Annabeth's words replayed in his head: You have to remember what makes you happy.
"We'll be okay, Neeks. Where's the nearest entrance to the underworld?"
"Los Angeles." Nico grumbled.
"Alright, we're going to Los Angeles. Just you, me, and the chariot."
"That sounds like a really bad song: Just you, me, and the chariot." Suddenly, he wasn't crying anymore. "We'll be okay. We'll make it."
So they were back to their diet of cokes and mini-pizzas. Nico missed the camp food, but he liked it when Will tried to cook. The kid was so bad, he could burn water. The thought made Nico laugh while he tried to bite the charred pizza. It tasted like cardboard, but Will had said no to McDonalds, so burnt pizza it was.
"They forgot to install an ice machine," Will said, sipping his lukewarm coke. "Did you know, in foreign countries, they don't serve drinks with ice?"
"If I say no, will you be satisfied?" He broke off another piece of pizza.
"Kiss me. Then, maybe..." Will leaned over, raising his eyebrows. "Hey, death boy," He whispered and then pulled Nico in for a kiss. It was then that the son of Hades realized his boyfriend was more cliché than any chick flick they ever watched.
"You're predictable," Nico grinned, pulling away from Will.
"I may be predictable," Will argued. His voice dropped to a whisper. "But I'm also madly in love with you."
If anything, I am predictable. I. Am. Officially. Solangelo. Trash. Don't forget to drop a review down below! Random fact: I have the worse cold known to mankind. I'm not sure if it's a cold, or strep throat, so fml.