Pro tip: Never sleep on a floor.
The moment I got up I felt pain all over my body. [Moments like that, of course, made me wish Will were there.]
I felt a temporary bit of satisfaction thinking Nica suffered the same thing.
I looked around and saw no sign of her. Only her iPod.
'Nica?' I called.
No answer.
I walked upstairs.
I knocked. 'Miss Psyche?'
Psyche yawned. 'Come in, Nicoló.'
I opened the door. 'Where is she?'
'What do you mean?' Psyche asked.
'Nica. She's not downstairs.' I said.
'She might have found somewhere else to sleep.' Psyche said.
'Where could she have gone without her iPod?'
Psyche thought for a moment. 'Sleepwalking?'
I scowled. 'One last time; where is my sister?'
Psyche looked at the clock. 'Who are you again?'
I almost screamed at her when she got a text.
'Zayden.' She murmured. Then her eyes widened. 'Holy Poseidon.'
'What?' I asked.
'Your sister—'
Another text.
She typed something furiously. 'Sorry. Forget what I said. Let's go.'
'Zayden doesn't want you to tell us?' I asked.
'No. Come.'
Psyche dragged me out the door.
The house was obviously bigger than it appeared.
We went through corridor after corridor with Psyche mumbling insults.
'That scoundrel.' Psyche cursed. 'He cannot hide forever.'
'Excuse me?' I asked.
'Nothing.' Psyche said.
She stopped at our twelfth corridor [yes; I was counting], and opened a golden door at her left.
Sure enough, Nica was sleeping peacefully.
'I forgot I brought her here.' Psyche said.
I smelt a rat. 'You gave her a bed and forgot me?'
'It was an accident.' Psyche said. 'And I was tired.'
I walked to Sleeping Not Exactly Beauty. 'Nicola Tymborchos di Angelo.'
'Present.' She said, still sleeping.
'Nico.' Psyche called. 'Wake up now.'
Nica didn't even try to respond.
I picked her hand up and let it drop. 'She's unconscious.'
'How did you know?' Psyche asked.
'I just do.' I lied. 'Who's Zayden and what did he tell you?'
'Nothing.' Psyche said with her hands behind her back.
I scrutinized her. 'You're lying.'
'He does not want her to know.' Psyche complained. 'And I promised.'
'On the River Styx?' I asked.
Psyche shook her head. 'No.'
'You can tell me. I'm not her. I'll keep it secret.'
Psyche looked down. 'Promise?'
'I could swear it.' I said.
Psyche sighed. 'Zayden—'
'Am I welcome to the party?'