Disclaimer: All rights to Rick Riordan. I own nothing, but the plot.

Themes of self-harm, anxiety, and depression are expressed within this story. TRIGGER WARNING! Please do NOT read if these themes upset you. TRIGGER WARNING!

Criticism is appreciated, but please no hate. Please review and leave me suggestions! Enjoy!

Nico's POV:

He blinked his eyes open. He was in his bed, in his room, in the Underworld. He vaguely remembered his father, but it was very fuzzy. He looked to the side to find his father in a chair, looking at him. He looked relieved to see Nico awake.

"What happened?" Nico asked holding his head. He couldn't remember exactly, but he felt relatively calm. He didn't think he was when he first arrived.

"You asked me to knock you out yesterday, so I did. I also obtained a sleeping draught and calming solution to help you relax." Hades explained.

That explained the exhaustion. "From who?"

Hades shook his head. "Irrelevant. Now, what happened yesterday? Why were you in such a panic?"

His mind cleared a little bit. "Aaron."

His father visibly tensed. "I thought he had been banished from the camp."

"I did too. But when I went to go find Chiron to inform him that Ellis was missing and Sherman didn't have any other information, I found him in the basement, taking care of Aaron. He's still at camp." Nico explained.

His eyes felt heavy; the calming and sleeping draught must have been working overtime to relax him.

Rage ignited in his father's eyes. His hands started crackling with the same dark energy that Nico's usually did when he was upset. "Is that the case?"

"No idea why he's still here. He should have been kicked out."

His father stood quickly, his chair falling over. He swept towards the door. "Where are you going?" Nico asked, falling back onto his pillows.

"To take care of business." The door slammed behind him, a picture frame falling off his desk and shattering to the floor.

That's not right Nico thought. He threw off the covers and stumbled over to the picture frame. He picked up the actual frame, looking at the picture. It was an old photo of him, Bianca, and his mother. He traced over them, accidentally catching his finger on the glass. The pain brought him to reality, cutting through the fogginess of the sleeping draught.

The panic returned; Aaron was still at Camp. Nico dropped the frame, falling to his knees into the shattered glass on the floor. He grabbed one of the shards and held onto it tightly, trying to ground himself. He was safe here. His father would protect him.

"Pathetic." He whispered under his breath; he didn't need anyone to protect him. "Weak!"

He picked up the glass that now had his blood on it and threw it across the room. It hit the wall hard and shattered into even more pieces. He grabbed the lamp on the bedside table. He also threw that across the room. It crashed against the wall. In the process of his rage, Nico had reopened the wounds on his hands from the previous day. Nico held himself up using his bed, his blood soaking into the sheets. He stayed like that for a little bit before hearing muffled screaming. He opened his door and was immediately exposed to his father screaming at someone. Curious, he walked cat-like down the hallway, not making a sound. The voices were issuing from the throne room.

"YOU CLAIMED YOU WERE GOING TO BANISH THAT BOY FROM YOUR CAMP AND MY SON REPORTS TO ME THAT HE IS STILL THERE?" The god of the Underworld screamed.

Nico arrived at the door and peeked inside. His father was yelling at Chiron. "Allow me to explain, Your High-"

"NOT ONLY ARE YOU PUTTING MY SON IN DANGER, BUT YOU ARE ALSO PUTTING THE REST OF THOSE DEMIGODS IN DANGER AS WELL AS DESTROYING MY SON'S MENTAL HEALTH."

"That was not my intention, and I have been searching all night for your son to make sure he is okay. Is he here?" Chiron asked.

"WHERE HE IS SHOULD NOT BE ANY OF YOUR CONCERN CONSIDERING YOU ENDANGERED HIS LIFE TO BEGIN WITH." Hades thundered.

Nico had heard enough. He pivoted and headed back to his room. He opened his door and closed it behind him. Even his father's palace wasn't safe anymore; Chiron had been able to find him. It was time for Nico to disappear again.

As he was grabbing his already-packed bag, shimmering light appeared before him; it was an Iris-Message. Nico dropped his sword as he stepped towards the rainbow. Communications were down so this Iris-Message seemed almost impossible. Before he knew it, a familiar face appeared before him.

"Annabeth!" Nico exclaimed seeing the daughter of Athena's face. "How did you get this through? Communic-are you alright?" He asked, noticing the tear tracks on her face.

As Annabeth took a moment to respond, too many questions were floating around in his head. Why was she calling? Why did it look like she had been crying? Percy said she had left for Boston for a family emergency, but what had happened?

"I- I'm fine. Look, this is going to sound really stupid, but I need your help with something."

"Of course, what do you need?"

She took in a breath. "Okay, so I have family in Boston. One of my family members had- disappeared a while ago, so my dad and I are looking for him. We- we think we found him, but- he's-"

"Dead?" A sinking feeling came over Nico.

"I know how to tell if someone is dead, but there's something weird about it. It's- my family has a lot of godly blood- I just don't know if he's actually dead, but I was asking- I was asking if you could check." She requested.

"Yes, I can do that for you Annabeth. I can come and check myself. Where are you?" Nico asked, looking around for shadows.

She rattled off an address in Boston.

"Okay, I can find that. I'll be there soon, okay?"

"Thank you, Nico. I really appreciate this." She waved her hand through the message.

Nico looked around for a shadow, which wasn't difficult to find in the Underworld. He reached his hand out and before he knew it, he was melting into the shadows.

He landed in a park in Boston. He looked around for the blonde daughter of Athena. He spotted her, standing up from a bench. He made his way over to her.

"Annabeth." He said when she got within earshot.

"Nico," she wrapped him in a hug. Nico flinched back but allowed her to hug him. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed quickly, before releasing. She pulled back. Nico could see the unshed tears threatening her eyes. "Thank you so much for coming."

"Of course." Nico was about to shove his hands into his pockets when Annabeth grabbed his wrist.

"Why are your hands bleeding?" Nico looked down at his hands. He had been in such a rush to get away and have been distracted by Annabeth's call that he forgot to wrap them up.

"Sparring before I came here." Nico lied, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Wanted to get here as soon as possible so I forgot to heal them up."

"Will isn't going to be very happy when he sees those." Annabeth reprimanded.

Nico shrugged, feeling a twinge of guilt. He had run from camp so quickly that he hadn't told Will where he was going. He knew that he would not be returning to camp any time soon. "It'll be fine."

Annabeth's eyes narrowed. "Something's wrong."

"It's okay Annabeth-"

"Don't lie."

Nico sighed. "Look, I will explain later. Let's go see what we can find out about your relative first, okay?"

"I'm holding you to that." Annabeth dropped the subject.

"I don't doubt you. Now, tell me what you know about this relative." Nico started walking with Annabeth as she led the way to wherever they were heading to.

"It's my cousin. His name is... was Magnus. Magnus Chase. We used to be really close when we were younger, but his mother, my father, and our uncle all had a falling out. So, we didn't talk to that side of the family in forever. Recently, our uncle Randolph reached out to my dad. He told us about Magnus and how he had been missing for years." Annabeth was winding her way through the streets of Boston. "My dad and I came as soon as possible, and we've been here for a week or so, handing out flyers and trying to find Magnus. There was a, what the news is calling a terrorist attack, on a bridge and Magnus' body was found."

"You don't think it was a terrorist attack?" Nico asked.

Annabeth shook her head. "I have a feeling there was some godly interference. That's why I called you. Because if I have godly blood on my side, there is a chance that he has it too. The Chase Family attracts a lot of gods."

Nico nodded. "Good call."

"I was worried that I wouldn't get a hold of you. Communications have been incredibly unreliable." Annabeth voiced her concern.

"At camp too." Nico provided. "No idea why."

They stopped at a funeral home. A sign read Twinning & Sons Memorial Services. A display by the door listed upcoming viewings. Magnus Chase, at ten am, was at the top.

"This is where they are keeping his body before the funeral this afternoon."Annabeth gulped loudly; her eyes closed.

"You don't have to do this, Annabeth. I can go in by myself."

She opened her eyes. "No, I have to do this. This is my family, my cousin."

Nico nodded, understanding. "Then, let's do it."

He put his hand on the knob, expecting the door to be locked, but it gave no resistance. It opened without a problem. He cocked his head at that, but continued into the funeral home, hand on the hilt of his sword. The inside smelled of dead flowers and mold. Nico felt the aura of death increase tenfold in this place. The floor was dark red with dark wood walls, compressing the two demigods. Annabeth took the lead down the hallway, peeking into the first room.

"Magnus?" Annabeth's voice was broken as she spoke.

Nico came up behind her to see inside the room. It was a set up like a chapel: three stained glass windows on the back wall, rows of folding chairs facing an open coffin on a dais. A person was standing in front of the dais. He had looked around quickly when Annabeth had spoken. At the entrance of the room was a poster-size portrait of a younger version of the guy standing in front of the coffin, wreathed in black crepe paper. Next to it, on a small table, was a guest book.

Annabeth looked from her cousin to the coffin, which contained… her cousin. The body in the coffin and the guy standing outside it was the same person. Nico's eyes squinted in confusion. He had never seen anything like this before.

"I knew it!" Annabeth said. "I knew you weren't dead!"

She lunged forward, tackling Magnus in a hug. Nico took that as a sign to move. He walked past the reunited family members to examine the body.

"Yeah… um…" Magnus said, pulling himself from the hug. "It's really good to see you." He looked at Nico. "Who is this? Your boyfriend?"

Nico laughed. "That's funny."

He continued looking at the body. It was a real body. And it had an uncanny resemblance to Magnus.

"That's Nico. I asked him to come to… support me." She wrinkled her nose at the corpse that Nico was looking at. "Are you going to make me ask? I thought you were dead, you butt."

"Hard to explain." Magnus smiled.

"I'll say," Nico interjected, lifting his head from the body to look at Magnus. "This is a real body and it looks exactly like you. Why is that?"

Magnus didn't answer.

"Isn't the body fake Magnus? You are trying to convince everyone you are dead?" Annabeth asked.

"He's not trying to convince people." Nico supplied. He grabbed Magnus's arm. There. He detected the trace aura of death. It felt like the same one that surrounded people who chose rebirth from the Underworld to try for Elysium. "He is dead. Or was. He did die. That is his body."

Magnus pulled his arm away. "How… how on earth… how would you know that?"

Nico smiled creepily. "I have a nose for death. And you are dead."

"Then how is he moving around?" Annabeth asked. "Dead people don't walk around. And if they do, they are only spirits."

Nico considered this. If Magnus was a spirit, he should be able to control him. He withdrew his sword.

"Nico, what are you doing?!"

Nico held up his hand to stop Annabeth's question. "As the Ghost King, I order you, Magnus Chase, to jump up and down."

Magnus looked at him quizzically, and then to Annabeth. "Ghost King? Is this guy for real? Wait…did you guys pass an e… a guy on the way in? My friend was supposed to be keeping watch."

"No. No one was out there. The front door was unlocked." Annabeth informed.

"I should check-" Magnus started moving towards the door.

"Whoa, not until I get some answers," Annabeth said, putting her hand on Magnus's chest to stop him.

"I—Honestly, I don't know where to start. I'm in kind of a dangerous situation. I don't want to get you involved." Magnus stumbled.

"Too late." She crossed her arms. "And I know a lot about dangerous situations."

"Randolph almost got killed on that bridge," Magnus said. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

She laughed without humor. "Randolph—I swear, I'm going to shove that cane of his…Never mind. He wouldn't explain why he took you to the bridge. He kept talking about how you were in danger because of your birthday. He said he was trying to help. Something about our family history—"

"He told me about my father."

Annabeth's eyes darkened. "You never knew your dad."

"Yeah. But apparently…" Magnus shook my head. "Look, it would sound crazy. Just…there's a connection between what happened on the bridge and what happened to my mom two years ago, and—and who my father is."

"Magnus…oh, gods."

She had been right; Magnus was a demigod. But, that still didn't explain why he had the aura of death. She paced in front of the coffin, her hands tented like she was praying. Nico watched her walk.

"I should've known. Randolph kept rambling about how our family was special, how we attracted attention. But I had no idea you…" She froze, then grabbed his shoulders. "I'm so sorry I didn't know sooner. I could've helped you."

"Um, I'm not sure—"

"My dad's flying back to California tonight after the funeral," she continued. "I was going to catch the train for New York, but school can wait. I get it now. I can help you. I know a place where you'll be safe."

Suddenly, a commotion at the doorway caused all three of them to turn to the door. Nico drew his sword. It was a small man, his left eye swollen shut. He started gesturing rapidly. Magnus was fixed on him, trying to make sense of the gestures. Nico slowly replaced his sword.

"Who-" Annabeth asked.

"That's my friend," Magnus informed. "I really have to go. Listen, Annabeth…" He took her hands. "I have to do this by myself. It's like…like a personal—"

"Quest?"

"I was going to say pain in the—yeah, quest works. If you really want to help me, please, just pretend you didn't see me. Later, after I'm done, I'll find you. I'll explain everything, I promise. Right now, I have to go."

She took a shaky breath. "Magnus, I probably could help. But…" She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "Recently I learned the hard way that sometimes I have to step back and let other people do their own quests, even people I care about. At least take this."

Magnus unfolded the piece of paper. Nico saw that it was one of the flyers Annabeth had been handing out.

"The second number is my phone. Call me. Let me know when you're okay, or if you change your mind and—"

"I'll call." Magnus kissed her cheek. "You're the best."

She sighed. "You're still a butt."

"I know. Thanks. Bye."

Magnus and his friend fled from the funeral home. Nico looked to Annabeth, who watched them go, looking distressed. She eventually realized herself and looked at Nico.

"What the Hades was that?" Nico asked.

Annabeth shrugged. "I have absolutely no idea."

"You were right." Nico pointed out. Annabeth looked confused. "He did have some sort of godly blood."

"Greek blood? Or Roman?" She asked.

"I don't think either. I would say that it was like he had been reborn from the Underworld, but he would have gotten another body. Not kept the same one. I don't think he is Greek."

"You think he's actually dead?"

Nico nodded. "I'm 90% sure. That is his body. And he had an aura of death surrounding him."

"Then how is he up and moving?"

Nico shrugged. "No idea. I'm surprised you let him go."

Annabeth nodded. "I am too. I really wanted to help him, but I think he needed to handle it on his own."

"What are you going to do now?" Nico asked.

"Go find my dad and go to the funeral service. Magnus is pretending to be dead for some reason, so I will play along."

"Are you going to tell your dad? Or your uncle?"

Annabeth considered this. "Definitely not Randolph. You saw how Magnus reacted. And no, I'm probably not going to tell my dad either."

"Yeah, I understand that."

The two demigods fell silent. Nico indicated towards the door. Annabeth nodded and they walked out of the funeral home.

Annabeth broke it. "So, why don't you tell me what's going on? Because I can tell that something is bothering you."

Nico thought about what to tell her. He didn't think telling her about the disappearances would be helpful. It would just put more stress on her on top of all of her family drama. She had also been in charge of the investigation into Aaron, so Nico didn't want her to know that he hadn't been sent away from camp.

"Nico?" Nico blinked, looking at Annabeth. He had zoned out.

"Yeah, sorry. Nothing is happening."

"That's a lie," she said.

Before Nico could respond, a dark cloud appeared above the two demigods. A figure appeared as the smoke dissipated.

"Alecto!" Nico yelled, recognizing the Fury. "Dad said his guard dog after me, again?"

"If you could just stay put when your father asks you to, I wouldn't have to play babysitter." Alecto spat back. "I have much more useful things to be doing that fetching your father's property."

"So you recognize that you are his pet?" Nico joked. "Glad you finally realized your place."

"Hang on, Nico, I thought you said that you were at Camp when I called you," Annabeth asked, looking confused.

Nico looked at her. "I stretched the truth. I was in my father's palace."

"Why not at camp?"

"My father summoned me. So I went. And now, apparently, my father requires my presence." Nico said, looking at the Fury. "Again."

"You have some serious explaining to do," Annabeth said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"And I will give you an explanation Annabeth." Nico reassured.

"But, not right now. Your father has sent me to retrieve you." Alecto repeated.

"And what if I say no? That I will not go?"

"So be it." Alecto snapped her fingers. Nico was enveloped in a cloud of smoke.