Some mornings like these when I looked at my reflection I was taken aback. Four years ago standing in the same spot I was standing in now was an angry little teenager. His skin was ghostly pale, fitting for his title as Ghost King though. His dark brown, almost black hair was untamed, long and greasy. Dark purple circles wrapped around his eyes, his eyes were black like a shark's and just as terrifying. And his face, a frozen scowl plastered onto it. Nico di Angelo had been forever altered by his tragic past. Losing his mother and forced to live in a place where time had stopped, then thrust into the twenty-first century, where again he was forced to deal with things that would've broken most beyond the hope of recovery. He lost his sister, the last thing he had of his beloved and beautiful mother. The first person he had ever let himself fall in love with, did not love him, not in the way he would've wanted. He was forced to watch the one he loved cling to another, watch as any hope was crushed. He was forced to survive in Tartarus alone, forced into a giant's jar, forced again to help the Jackson boy. Later down the line he was forced to expose these feelings to someone who he had yet learned to fully trust. He nearly died, fading away into nothingness to help those who he didn't think cared all that much for him. Yes, Nico di Angelo had been a very angry, depressed, miserable fourteen year old.
But I was no longer that boy. I was still Nico di Angelo, king of ghost, and only surviving son of Hades. But so much had changed. My reflection was different. I had regained my tan complexion; the dark purple circles around my eyes were gone. My hair, though still untamed, was shorter. And I smiled a lot more, laughed almost every day. I had friends, true, lifelong friends. I had a half-sister; who although could never replace Bianca, certainly filled the void. The boy I had pinned over was now one of my best friends, who thought of me as his little brother, the girl he loved, who I had envied, was also my close friend. I was their child's godfather, their way of thanking me for having helped save Annabeth's life the night she delivered. And I had Jason and Piper, Frank and of course my half-sister, Hazel.
There was another thing that I had; something I didn't think was possible for someone like me. I had love. For three years now I had belonged to a remarkable man. One could make the joke (Gods know Percy, and Jason certainly have) that I found solace in Will Solace. Will had been my sanctuary, had literally brought me out of the shadows and into the light.
I stood in the cabin that had been my home for near four years. For the most part it was bare. The bed and couch were still there, a few pots and pans in the kitchen for when I would come to visit, but so much was packed away and in brown boxes. This had been my final full year at Camp Half Blood, I'd only return in the summer for a few weeks. I was eighteen, and it was time to move on. I was going to New Rome, and Will was joining me. He had agreed to stay at Camp and extra year so that we could leave together. He would be attending college, I still was unsure of what I was going to do, babysit Peter during the day probably.
Though I was slightly sad at leaving the only home I had had in a very long time, I was excited. I would be walking distance from my half-sister, my friends and my adorable godson. I would be living in the same place as Will. I chuckled, he had been with me for so long now, and still I felt those skeletal butterflies flutter in my stomach at the realization that we were going to be living together, completely sharing our lives. I felt something brush against my legs. I looked down and smiled at the black cat that Will had given me three years ago as a Christmas present. I bent down and picked up the cat.
"Well Mrs. Norris," I said turning to face the bare cabin, "ready to say goodbye?" She meowed. I smiled and pressed my face into her's. She purred and stretched out her neck. There was a knock on the open door. I turned and saw Will and Timmy, both had boxes in their arms.
"We ready," Will asked. I took one final look, and then nodded my head.
"Yeah, I think we are," I said with a smile.
"I can't believe you're leaving," Timmy said with a small pout. I cocked my head to the side.
"I have to go, I'm a grown up now," I said pretending to be sickened by the statement, this got him to smile. "And it's not forever, I'll be back in the summer," I reassured him. He shrugged and left the room. Will took a look and whistled.
"I'm sure gonna miss this place," he said. I nodded.
"We sure had a lot of good times here," I said reminiscing. Will smirked.
"Remember the first night we showered together?" he asked before placing a kiss on my cheek. Even after all this time he made me blush. I nodded my head and smiled at the memory.
"I'm scared," I admitted looking into his beautiful blue yes. Will took in a deep breath.
"So am I," he admitted, "but I have you to help me through it," he said with a smile. That smile made me feel better, made me feel safe. I took one last look before walking out of the cabin. Will and I walked towards the edge of the camp line. Our going away party had been last night, but nearly everyone followed to say goodbye. Chiron gave us each a hug, and again reassured us that we were welcome back anytime. Will gave each of his siblings a hug goodbye, and then we crossed the camp line. I summoned Jules-Albert and he helped put the rest of the boxes in the trunk(thank the gods the Hermes kids were able to send most of our stuff to New Rome).
Mrs. Norris jumped into the limo, and Will grabbed my hand. We walked towards the opened door. I felt a wave of reassurance wash over me. Everything was going to be okay, my future was actually bright and filled with endless possibilities.
