Ch30
Bianca sat at the table as Percy and Calypso both looked at each other awkwardly. "So are you sure about your decision to join the hunt?" Percy asked scratching the back of his head.
Calypso looked Percy in the eyes nodded, "Yes I am," she said firmly. "I just need time to figure out my life. I've been waiting on men for most of my life and had my heart broken many times," she said sadly as Percy avoided her gaze. "But now I want to discover my own life and what I want, I want to live my own life and explore the world instead of having to wait on a man to make me whole."
Calypso shook her head and sighed, "Percy you don't know what it was like waiting on that island and constantly getting your heart broken constantly, I just really need space and want to find things out for myself. Besides, I lost my immortality and don't really have a place in this modern world."
Bianca thought Percy was going to protest but to her surprise he just sighed, "Well if that is your decision fine but always know you have a place here in camp," he said. "Anyway I'm just glad the gods set you free this time."
"Me too," Calypso said with a smile. "Now if you excuse me I would like to explore the camp."
"Go right ahead," Percy said. "Thalia should be around somewhere."
Calypso nodded and got up to leave, she was about to follow her when Percy stopped her, "Hey Bianca can I speak to you for a minute?"
"Uh sure what is it?" She asked feeling a bit unnerved about being alone with a guy. No stop it, Lady Artemis gave us a strong lecture about not disliking all men. The goddess made it very clear that they are not to act condescending towards men or harm and insult any campers during their stay at camp.
"I just wanted to say thanks for everything," Percy said looking at her with his sea green eyes. "I'm not going to lie, me and a lot of campers still have hard feelings towards the hunt and a lot still dislike what you did to your brother."
"Yeah I know," she sighed. She felt the glares from various campers during her stay and many still referred to her as the girl who hated her brother. "But thanks for standing up for both of us," she said softly.
"No problem," Percy said though she could tell in his eyes that he was still sorting out his view of her and the hunt. "You helped me a lot during this final battle I'm grateful for everything you and your brother did for the camp. You both are welcome here and I hope you both can stay here and train."
"Thanks but for now I think I will stay with the hunt," she said. "Nico though, I think he may train with our father but don't worry he has a reason to come back here," she sighed. She knew that he seemed to spend all of his time with that son of Apollo along with Silena and her boyfriend. It's almost as if he has another family here she thought as she tried not to feel jealous about it. She thought he would be spending time with her and they could catch up or something but lately, he seemed more content hanging out with his friends here who received him with open arms than her and a part felt miffed at that. He has grown so much I'm proud of him.
"Well anyway just remember to be careful," Percy said as he got up and stared at her. "We don't know what will happen next but we should all stay together. Anyway stay safe both of you," he said with a smile.
"Thank you," she said as the son of Poseidon left the room. Why do I feel so weird talking to him. I honestly can't tell if he sees me as a friend or as an annoyance, I mean I did help him a lot but still I know he judges me for leaving Nico still. She felt a bit angry at that but then she felt upset being angry. Who cares I'm with hunt and it's not like I'll be seeing him often.
She got up and walked around the camp and ran into her brother's friend, "Oh hey you're Will right?" she asked.
Will nodded, "Yeah sorry I was just going to see your brother were you going to see him too?" He asked curiously
"I was just taking a walk around camp," she said looking at the trees. "I just needed a break from it all, thanks again for helping Nico you were a good friend to him."
"Thanks I care for you brother a lot," Will said avoiding his gaze slightly. For a moment she swore she saw him blush before his gaze turned hard for a minute "He also cares about you a lot so try to be kind to him," he said in a curt tone. "You hurt him a lot don't do it again."
"I will," she said feeling the air around them get tense. "He is my brother and I care for him." Why was this guy acting so infuriating? She felt her blood boil a bit, who was this guy to come and tell her how she should treat her brother? She knew Nico better than he did even if this son of Apollo had gotten close to her brother.
She stared at the son of Apollo and for a second she had to admit her brother's friend was cute but at the same time she felt annoyed by him in a way she couldn't explain.
"Anyway my dad isn't angry at Nico, him saving Michael helped that," Will said in a cool tone. "Though our father still has hard feelings for you so don't be surprised if one day you start speaking in rhymes, and not good ones," he said foldings his arms and leaning over. "I expect you to be in Nico's life no matter how long you decide to stay with Aunt Artemis, believe me when I say I will petition my father to remind his sister about you if he feels alone. You don't have to worry about him though; me, Michael, Silena, and others will make sure he is loved and cared for here."
"I do care about him. What would you know about suffering?" She norted as felt her nostrils flare as she glared at the son of Apollo, why did her brother pick such an annoying guy to be his friend? The two glared at each other, she didn't know what to say, in a way she knew that there was a lot to make up in her relationship with her brother and the camp. I mean yeah I helped Percy but that doesn't mean that what I did will be forgiven easily.
"Oh I know what it is like to feel abandoned and alone," Will said folding his arms and giving her a hard look. "But I also know what it's like to have a family so appreciate what you have but know that Nico has many people here who love him."
She glared at the son of Apollo and for a moment the two stared at each other, "Hey Will did you want to go canoeing again?" Her brother asked his voice breaking through the silence.
They both snapped out of their little argument and turned to Nico who had a smile on his face. "Oh Bianca you could join us too if you want," he said though by his tone she could tell he just wanted to be with Will and that kind of hurt her.
"Oh I'm going to help Percy with something you two go ahead," she said forcing a smile on her face. "You two go on ahead."
"Alright come on Will," Nico said. "Maybe we can all do smores later or something."
"Yeah go on," she sighed. "I have my own things to do at the moment."
Her brother nodded before leaving with Will. She sighed as she went off to the camp feeling a bit annoyed at the way Will spoke to her but she knew deep down she had a lot to work on, her relationship with her brother was different and it would take time to heal those wounds but she was determined to make things right.
Nico you are my brother and I love you. I will make up everything to you I swear she thought as she went to join Thalia for lunch. She knew she had a lot to do to repair her relationship with her brother but she was going to make sure that their relationship could be better.
Nico sat beside Bianca in front of the throne of their father. They were alone there and his stepmom was away from what was going to happen. First Hades had told him and Bianca the story of their mother and how she was killed. He didn't know how to take it but he was glad to be able to talk with his father. Hades eyed them with a sigh, "Well then as I promised your sister Nico that you can speak to your mother so here she is," he said as he snapped his fingers.
Nico felt his heart beat as a misty image took shape in front of him. He felt his heart beat rapidly, he hadn't seen his mother in ages and now that he could see her he didn't know what to think. The misty shape took the form of their mother, he recognized the image well, "Mom," he said softly as he felt tears fall down his cheeks.
He looked over and saw that Bianca was crying as well. His mother smiled at them, "Hello children I am glad to be able to see you both again. I am glad you are both well and safe," she said with a smile on her face.
"Mom I am glad to see you again," Bianca said as a tear fell down her face.
Nico felt tears on his face as he cleaned his face. He cleaned his face with it as he felt various emotions inside of him as he looked at his mom. "I missed you mom."
"I missed you both," their mother said with a wide smile. "You both have grown up so much I am proud of all of your accomplishments. Tell me what is new in your lives?"
They both struggled with their emotions as they told them the novelties in their lives. Bianca talked about the hunt and he talked about his time at camp. Hades watched in silent though his face was a lot softer and he could tell he was happy to see his old lover.
"I am so proud of both of you," Maria di Angelo said. "You are both strong and I am happy you are both well have many friends. I hope you both can continue to support and love each other throughout your lives."
"We will," he said as Bianca nodded as well though he noticed she appeared a bit nervous.
"You must both be safe and support each other," their mother said. "You must support your father and keep each other safe promise that."
"We promise," both of them said without hesitation."
Maria di Angelo smiled at them, "Don't do anything stupid now always think with your heads. I am proud of both of you be safe and keep each other safe ok?"
"We will mom," Bianca said as she cleaned her face.
Their mother smiled at them, "Good now take care both of you and be safe." Maria then turned to Hades, "Watch over them my love don't let that imbecile hurt them."
For once he swore he saw his father smiled, "I won't dear I promise you."
Their smiled at him and bowed before disappearing. They were quiet for a bit before their father spoke up, "Well that was interesting. I expect you both to prepare for the future, there will be challenges that will require you both to work together," their father said in a soft tone.
They both nodded, "We will father," Bianca said. He nodded as well as their father looked at them, his face not as hard as it usually was.
"Good. Now both of you should be careful my father may close Olympus, the next great prophecy will probably start soon but when it does I'm not sure," Hades said. "Just prepare as much as you both can."
"We will," he said.
Hades nodded and dismissed them. He then decided to take a walk with his sister in the underworld. "So how is the hunt?" He asked as they walked through the Fields of Asphodel.
"Oh good," Bianca sighed. "Calypso really likes the hunt and fits in well with everyone."
"I'm glad to hear that. I hope your ranks can get filled again," he said.
"Yeah me too," Bianca said as she looked at a figure in the distance. "Oh Nico let me introduce you to someone, she is a spirit here."
"A spirit?" He asked.
"Yeah for some reason she retained her memories," she said as they walked to a grove of trees and saw a young girl sitting there. "Hey Hazel how are you doing?"
The girl turned around and smiled at them, "Hey Bianca long time no see. Who is your friend?"
"Hazel this is my brother Nico," Bianca said as she introduced them to each other.
"Nice to meet you," he said as he looked the girl over. She appeared around their age but he could tell that she was nervous about something. He couldn't explain it but something inside of him could tell that she was different.
"Likewise," Hazel said. "Bianca has told me a lot about you."
He chuckled, "That's good to hear. So how long have you been down here?"
Hazel shifted her gaze, "For a while now."
He nodded, "Cool I bet you don't get a lot of visitors how do you still have your sense of self?"
Hazel avoided their gaze, "Um it's complicated." He felt a bit of tension in the air and for a second he swore he saw fear in her eyes and felt his father watching them carefully.
He sighed, "Fine well if you need anything we are here for you ok?"
Hazel smiled, "Thank you."
With that, the three of them chatted as he and Bianca talked about their lives. He couldn't help but feel a connection with this girl. It wasn't much but he felt close to her despite just meeting her. She didn't give much details about her life except that she was a demigod and her mother did something wrong and she saved them. He found her story heart touching and wondered if he could know more about her.
Why am I even nervous about this he thought as he looked himself in the mirror. He was in a hotel near Will's place that was being paid for by his father. He was dressed in a button-down shirt (from Silena) and kept on combing his hair. "I don't want his mom to think I am a slob," he sighed as he looked at himself in the mirror. "Ok I think I look fine." Of course I've been getting ready for the past hour. He sighed and left the hotel room and headed towards Will's place.
It was still morning so there were no shadows, besides he didn't want to be too tired for Will. He took a taxi and was nervous the entire ride. Calm down he is my friend people do this.
When they arrived at Will's place he couldn't help but feel a bit inadequate since the house looked nice. He thanked the driver and got out. "Well here it goes," he said with a sigh as he walked up to the doorstep his heart pounding with every step as he felt his palms get sweaty. He dried his palms on his pants as he stood in front of the door. He took a deep breath as he looked at the doorbell and pressed it, "Well here it goes," he said as the sound of the doorbell reverberated inside.
He quickly heard the sound of someone running to the door and he was soon greeted by Will. "Hey Nico come on in," Will said with a smile. "I am glad you could make it."
He smiled as he couldn't help but admit Will was dressed pretty well, "Thanks. I am glad to be here."
Will smiled at him, "Well come on in."
He nodded as he entered Will's house. He had never hung out before but he was glad to have a friend like Will, for once in a long time he felt accepted.
AN: So I decided to have Calypso join the hunt because in my opinion, it is a satisfying end to her arc. She constantly waited for a man to save her and now that she is saved she can choose her own path especially since she has become mortal. To be honest in my opinion the hunt is actually a great choice for her because she gets to have her own life instead of waiting on others. As for Leo, I guess he can learn that it is ok to be single.
For the record I am not an Artemis fan boy but I didn't realize a lot of people detest her and the hunt and true Rick kind of exaggerated their dislike of men I don't think she hates men since in the myths there are men that gain her favor (Hippolytus and Orion) and she was often considered a goddess of childbirth.
Also, for Nico I decided not to have him officially with Will yet, I wanted their relationship to grow outside of the war and give him the dignity to come out and ask Will out on his own accord.
Will is also very protective of Nico and isn't afraid to call out and chastise Bianca as seen here. He cares for him deeply but doesn't have the best opinion of Bianca.
The Camp is a little uneasy about both of them but for different reasons, they still dislike the hunt and Bianca for what she did and Nico for fleeing and being with Kronos.
As for Bianca she doesn't have much friends at camp even though she helped Percy. Of course I had her help Percy like Nico did in canon and I don't have a problem with that she and Nico had different arcs in this story. She learned to be less selfish and love her brother and Nico learned independence.
Well this story is done, I know it wasn't to a lot of people's liking but I had a death in my family due to covid and haven't really had the energy to write or revise since this person was very close to me. I just wanted to end the story because if I didn't I would probably never finish it. So who knows I may come back to it and revise or just write a sequel. Though to be honest I never had planned to kill off Bianca, Nico, or anyone else for that matter.
I know there are many who are disappointed with this ending and I can understand that but please don't send me hate in my PM box telling me to kill myself or leave a bunch of reviews telling me to kill myself, those will be promptly deleted. I do have a lot of personal things going on and don't need that negativity
Though by all means you can criticize me so long as it doesnt turn personal or telling me to kill myself. So by all means tell me how you think it could be improved and who knows in the future I might revise it but for now I have to put the pen down and take a break. Anyway have a good day I really need a break from all the crazyness in my life and for my mental health since I have received death threats for this story and my other one.