Ch28
Nico was with Will helping the wounded when they heard the news. "Hades took out Prometheus," said a wounded demigod. "The dead have risen and are attacking us," the demigod said in a delirious state. Father he thought as he looked at Will they both looked at each other and knew that now was their chance. Bianca might be there too he thought as he and Will quickly excused themselves.
"Will you have the stuff right?" He asked.
Will nodded, "Yeah its by the bag near Michael."
"Good then get some rope we have to be as convincing as possible," he said.
Will got the rope as the camp was in chaos, from what they gathered Hades was on the battlefield and Kronos went to meet him while Ethan and Alabaster were off fighting the undead.
When they got to Michael Yew's room Nico dismissed the guards, "You won't want to be here if you fear the dead," he told them coldly. The nodded and quickly left as he and Will entered.
Michael Yew stared at them in shock as Will got his bag, "What's going on?" He asked as he helped Will undo the chains.
"Play along we will try to get you out," Will said. "We will have to tie your hands and put a gag around your mouth ok?"
Michael looked at them nervously and nodded, "Fine I trust you Will."
Nico gripped his father's sword as Will tied Michael's hands behind his back and wrapped a cloth around his mouth. Will pulled out a dagger and held it to his throat for effect as they left the tent.
Demigods and monsters were running in confusion as they headed towards Artemis's tent. Nico glared at the guards with his sword in his hand, "Get going we need you at the front. I'll take care of her," he said in a cold tone.
The demigods and quickly ran off as they entered the tent. Artemis stared at them in surprise, "What's going on?" She asked.
"My father is here and he brought an army," He said as he gripped his father's sword and slashed at the chains breaking Artemis free.
"Lady Artemis we have Nectar let us heal you," Will said as he undid Michael's bounds and gave him some ambrosia. Artemis nodded as she accepted the nectar while Will and Michael prayed to their father.
Nico watched as Artemis's wounds healed and her countenance improved. "Ok I'm good now I should be at full strength soon," Artemis said. "I can summon my sleigh it can hold us all; my hunters are still at the Lincoln Tunnel right?"
He nodded, "As far as I know they still are."
"Good then lets go," she said as a bow appeared in her hands.
They all nodded as they exited the tent, Artemis snapped her fingers and a silver chariot appeared in front of them. Some monsters and demigods saw and tried to stop them but they were taken out by Artemis. They got in the chariot and soon they were flying into the sky.
Artemis fired down on the enemy soldiers and monsters in the camp causing as much havoc as she could. "I say we give the enemy a taste of my power," she said as she fired arrows at that all reached their target. "Nico di Angelo thank you," she said looking at him with her eyes. "I am glad you came to your senses."
Nico nodded, "No problem. I realized that Bianca has a right to her own life and that I shouldn't force her decision. Honestly I had nothing to do with your capture."
Artemis nodded, "I know. I am just glad you all got out of there safely." She then turned to Will, "Your father will be pleased to know that you didn't betray him he really was devastated."
Will's face reddened, "Thanks. I wanted to support Nico I never had any intention of betraying him."
"I knew it Will," Michael said as he hugged his brother. "We all knew deep down you wouldn't join Kronos."
Will hugged Michael in return, "I'm glad you all had faith in me. I didn't mean any of the things I said. Oh and Nico didn't turn me, we actually were keeping each other sane the entire time."
Michael looked at him and nodded, "I see well sorry for what I said. Heads up a lot of our siblings may dislike you but I'll see what I can do."
"No I problem I understand," he said. "I know I did a lot of things and I will face the consequences."
Artemis gave him a small smile, "I can see that you have matured Nico di Angelo. You are a real man now, if my father tries to punish either of you I will try to make him spare you both."
He nodded, "Thank you but if there is any punishment I will gladly accept it, sorry about defacing your cabin too. Oh and if it's worth anything Will didn't do anything he just followed me," he said softly
Artemis nodded, "No problem it's in the past and I am glad you found such a good friend in my nephew. I am sure his father will be static to know that his son didn't betray him. Now lets go meet my hunters, your sister should be with them. But first let's take out the enemy's supplies."
Artemis summoned a bow in her hand and flew her chariot over the enemy encampment. He and Will told her where some key supplies might be and as they flew over them Artemis rained arrows down on the enemy taking out their supplies and other enemy combatants who got in their way.
Nico gulped as he felt butterflies in his stomach. Bianca I hope we can have a good talk this time. Forgive me for acting like a brat I will respect your choice.
He knew that he had a lot to make up, he fought for Kronos and stole from his father he knew he wouldn't just get off scot free but he would accept any punishment. Hopefully they aren't too hard on Will he came with me. He looked over at Will who was talking with Michael Yew, I'm glad you are safe Will I really am. He gripped his father's sword as they raced through the sky. Artemis was busy flying around killing enemy monsters with each arrow.
Then they saw Thalia the daughter of Zeus holding Bianca on her lap while Ethan Nakamura was fighting off a pair of hunters. They landed with such force that Ethan was knocked to the ground unconscious. "Hello Thalia and Bianca I hope you are all well," Artemis said as she fired her bow at an enemy monster.
"Lady Artemis," Thalia said with a small bow. "I am glad you are ok."
"Me too thanks to Nico and his friend here I was able to escape," Artemis said.
Nico got off and stared at his sister. They both stared into each other's eyes and then they ran to each other. "Nico I'm so sorry," Bianca said as she hugged him. "I'm sorry for everything." He noticed she was injured, the blood on her shoulder was fresh and he felt his anger well up again.
Nico felt his tears fall down his face. "No I am. Please forgive me I should've accepted your decision." They hugged each other tightly and as some of the hunters were giving them weird looks.
"Come now they are siblings they can be affectionate with each other," Artemis said. "Is it true that my uncle is here?"
Bianca nodded as she pulled away, "Yes he went to get Kronos's attention and draw it away from the campers. But he will only be here for a day before he joins up with the other Olympians to help fight against Typhon."
Artemis nodded, "Alright I'll join him in a bit but I think I will stay here to hunt down the enemy until then," she said as she turned to Thalia. "Keep an eye on everything here ok?"
"Yes my lady," Thalia said with a bow.
Artemis looked over at the unconscious Ethan and snapped her fingers, ropes wrapped around his limbs tying him up. She then went to her sleigh, "Be safe all of you," she said as she took off and charged at the enemy lines.
"Secure the prisoner," Thalia ordered another hunter. Ethan was taken away by some hunters as Thalia turned to him and Will, "Lets go meet Percy he would want to know about this. I know you both want to catch up but we don't have time for that now."
Nico nodded, "I understand." He turned to his sister, "Let's talk later ok? Are you better you look hurt."
Bianca nodded her eyes full of tears, "I'm better Thalia helped bandage me up. We should talk later though," she said firmly. "I missed you Nico I should've been honest with you I'm sorry."
He smiled at his sister as he resisted the urge to tear up, "No it's my fault. I should've accept your decision but lets talk about this later."
He nodded as they all made their way with Thalia to the main tent. "Oh Nico is that father's sword?" Bianca asked.
He felt his face redden, "Yeah it is. I used it to free her."
"Oh well he wasn't happy that it was taken," she said.
He sighed, "Yeah sorry about that."
"Don't worry I'm glad you are safe," she said as they arrived at the main tent.
Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase were talking to Chiron of all people. He saw Percy turn to him and his eyes widened in shock. "Thalia what's going on."
He felt the eyes of everyone on him, he looked at Percy who was surprised to see him and Will and something was different. He no longer saw him as that cool hero who could do no wrong. He no longer made his heart skip a beat and in general, he just seemed like a normal guy trying his best. I mean he is cool just not really my type in a way.
"I um helped free Artemis," he said stepping forward. "Me and Will took the first opportunity to free her that we could. We also saved Michael here."
Will stepped forward and smiled sheepishly at some of his siblings who ran up to him and hugged him and Michael.
Chiron stepped forward, "Well we are glad you are with us Nico di Angelo. We are glad that you came to your senses and that you and Will are safe."
He nodded, "Thanks I am glad everyone is safe as well," he said as he saw someone walk up from behind Percy. His eyes widened as he saw Silena. "Hey Silena long time no see," he said.
Silena looked at him and quickly ran up to him and gave him a hug. "Nico I am so sorry," she said in a sob.
"There is nothing to be sorry for I made the decision to leave," he said as he hugged her back.
Silena pulled away and showed him a necklace, "Nico Kronos made me spy on you please forgive me. He threatened to hurt me and others if I didn't divulge your secrets. That bracelet I gave you it was meant for him to influence you." Silena had tears on her eyes and that made him mad.
Nico felt his eyes widen and he felt anger, not towards Silena but towards Kronos, "Don't worry Silena I always saw you as a friend. I'm not angry at you but I will make sure Kronos pays."
Silena nodded as she took off the necklace and threw it to the ground before stomping on it like an insect. "Here let me help," he said as he drew his sword and stabbed it causing it to break. He noticed everyone was looking at the sword, "Yeah it belongs to my father," he said as he sheathed it. "So what now?"
"Well we don't have much time but we should fight off the enemy as well as we can before the gods get here," Percy said. "I say you and Will should stay here we can use some medics."
"Sounds good," he said as he looked at Will who nodded in agreement.
"Yeah Nico I don't mind the help," Will said with a smile.
Nico nodded and he turned to his sister, "We will talk later ok?"
Bianca nodded, "We will I promise." The two hugged one last time before he turned and followed Michael Yew and Will Solace to help the wounded.
"Nico I'm glad things worked out between you and your sister," Will said with a smile.
"Thanks me too. I'm glad you and Michael are back here safely," he said. When they arrived at the medic tent the other members of the Apollo cabin stared at Will and Michael in shock and went over to greet them.
He stood to the side and gave Will some privacy as he caught up with his siblings. "What's he doing here?" One of Will's siblings said as a few of them gave him a dirty look.
"Guys Nico helped me while we were captive," Will said. "He is going to be helping me here too," he said in a tone that meant he was not compromising it.
"Yes Nico helped Will and eve helped me escape," Michael said. "He isn't a bad guy so please be nice to him," he said seriously.
The other healers looked at him and nodded. Will turned to Michael, "So lets get going then I guess."
Michael and his brother Austin smiled, "Yeah we will need you both," Austin said. They were put to work right away. Nico never knew how much he actually enjoyed helping Will heal people. Will was very good at it and they worked well as a team. I know this won't last but I honestly hope I and just hang out with Will in the future just two of us. Maybe we can watch Star Wars or something. He couldn't explain it but he was glad to be Will's friend and he no longer cared if Percy was his friend or not.
Artemis flew in the sky towards where Typhon was. She looked to her left and saw her uncle. "Artemis I'm glad to see you are safe," Hades said.
Artemis nodded, "You too. I'm glad we were able to help the campers out just a bit. Thank you for coming."
Hades nodded, "Yes hopefully they will do the rest but now we have to help our family."
"Yes let's go," she said. "Oh your son, he helped me escape. He is with the campers now and his sister is safe too."
Hades nodded though she could tell he was pleased by the news, "Thank you. I hope my brother goes easy on him."
"Don't worry on my honor I will ask that he not given a tough punishment," she said. "He was loyal when it mattered."
Hades nodded as they flew in the direction of the Olympians. They saw their family fight Typhon as they approached her father and brother came to her. "Artemis you are free!" Apollo said looking bloodied.
She smiled at her brother, "Yes Apollo thanks to your son Will and Nico son of Hades. Your son never denied you in his heart he cares about you a lot."
Apollo smiled at her and hugged her out of joy. Her father Zeus then spoke up, "Well I am glad you both can join us now we can use all of the help we can get."
"Well I never thought I would've heard you say that," said a voice from behind them. They turned around to see Poseidon in his chariot. "Come now lets finish off this monster."
Zeus nodded, "Yes for Olympus!" He said as they turned around and faced Typhon.