Chapter 9: It's a Hard-knock Life for Us

When we arrived back at camp where the Hunters packed up and folded their enchanted tents. If I remember correctly, the tents are simply silver square pieces of cloth that, when thrown on the ground, emerge into full blown tents. The whole concept was really fascinating, but I'm not about to tell the boy-hating hunters that. They would probably think I'm flirting anyway.

A couple feet away, a group of hunters were feeding and petting snow-white wolves with absolutely no fear. The canines eerily reminded me of Lycon, the first werewolf, and his pack. Reyna, Hedge, and I barely escaped them with our lives. We had nothing to fight them with except Reyna's silver companion, Argentum, and my silver Swiss Army knife.

I decided it would probably be best to stay away from the wolves.

Bianca sat with the hunters by the campfire, chatting amicably. Her silver parka and circlet shimmered in the moonlight. Actually, her whole form seemed to shimmer, like a mirage.

Like a ghost. She's a hunter now.

I honestly don't know why I thought she would even reconsider the choice. Why would she? She's finally getting what she wanted: A real family. Something I simply can't provide her. Joining the hunt doesn't just mean immortality.

To her, it means freedom.

Freedom from me.

My sister laughed and smiled with the other girls and for the first time I've ever seen her, she looked truly happy. Her dark hair was swept to the side in a braid, her bangs unable to hide her face. Her eyes seemed to brighten as she laughed, and her thin smile reminded me more of our mother than ever before. Now that her hair is pulled back, you can make out the various freckles strewn on her angular face, like stars. She ditched the signature green floppy hat to wear the outfit of a hunter proudly, her confidence shining as much as her ethereal aura.

At least she's happy, I thought. If my sister is going to ditch me to join a group of immortal boy-hating hunters, I'm glad she's satisfied with her decision.

Her eyes roamed the disassembled campsite before locking with mine. Her face flashed in guilt and shame. I frowned slightly, rejecting the discreet apology. The last thing I saw before I broke eye contact was the look of hurt in her dark eyes.

And as messed up as it is, a part of me didn't care.

"Annabeth?" I asked.

"Yeah?"

"There's something I need to tell you, it's important. But I can't say it right now—not here. I'll tell you when I see an opportunity," I said reluctantly.

"Alright," she must have seen the fear on my face. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's fine, Nico. I won't judge you."

We'll see, I thought sullenly. We'll see.

Is it risky to tell her my parentage? Yes, extremely so. But it's also necessary. This could go a couple of ways: 1) She might grab her hidden dagger and slice my throat before I can even scream. This would definitely eliminate the many problems I pose, as there is a chance—very slim, but a chance nonetheless that I will join Kronos's army. 2) She might knock me out. Next thing I know, I'm standing before the accusing stares of the Gods and Zeus' stupid lightening bolt that he'll use to fry me like chicken for supposibly being born before the oath. 3) This seems very unlikely, but she may shriek, "Not today, Satan!" and run away screaming her head off. I mean, she wouldn't necessarily be wrong, but it would be rather rude to do such a thing. I may even find myself in the situation of reaction 2 or even reaction 1. 4) This is the most unlikely of all four reactions. She would act all cool about it, give zero judgment, and admit that she had her suspicions ever since I pulled the "crazy stunt" as she liked to put it, with Dr. Thorn. She might even hug me. I think I'll put that under reaction 4.5.

I am seriously regretting this decision.

I heard footsteps crunching behind me in the snow. I turned around to find a fixed-up Percy and Grover heading towards me, two rucksacks in their hands.

Percy handed Annabeth her bag. "The hunters found this behind the pillar. I thought you might need it."

"Thanks," she smiled. It quickly turned into a frown. "What were you thinking? Why didn't you wait for us? Why didn't you find us first? Out of all of the stupid stuff you've pulled over the years, Percy Jackson, this might just be in the top five! Seriously, Seaweed Brain. What were you thinking?"

Percy winced apologetically. "I'm sorry, Wise Girl. I know it was stupid of me not to get you guys, but thought Thorn was going to kill them before we even got the chance to arrive! You disappeared into the crowd to find Grover and Thalia and there was just no time! I made an impulsive mistake and it almost cost everyone's life, especially yours. I'm sorry, Annabeth, it's my fault you almost died," he turned to me, shame evident in his eyes. "And I'm sorry I put you and your sister's lives in danger."

I blinked in surprise. Usually it's me that's saying sorry to Percy, not the other way around. Especially with the number of times that I've screwed up and it's cost Percy and everyone's lives. Watching Percy apologize like this just seems so wrong. One of the last times I remember him saying sorry was Bianca's death and even then I was too overwhelmed and shocked to really listen. I ran away into the forest and stumbled upon a very eager ghost who tricked me into doing his dirty work for him. I haven't exactly had the best experience with apologizes and I'm sorry, and it doesn't help that holding lifetime (and afterlife time) grudges is my fatal flaw. Nevertheless, I decided to cut Percy some slack. It's not his fault his head is full of kelp after all.

"It's okay, don't be too hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes," I smiled.

Everyone makes mistakes.

I wish that were the case for me. But unfortunately children of the Underworld don't get that luxury, especially me after what I've done.

"Do you know where Thalia went?" Annabeth asked.

"Somewhere near the edge of the school, I think," Percy said. Annabeth thanked him and left with Grover to find Thalia.

Percy made a move to hand me my olive green rucksack, but he hesitated.

"When Thorn mentioned the General, how did you know who he was talking

about? And how did you know Artemis would ask Bianca to become a hunter?"

The questions took me by surprise. He was paying attention. Of course he was paying attention, my brain supplied helpfully. He sees more than a freaking hawk.

I told myself I wouldn't slip. That I would think about every word carefully before I say it. That I would only speak when spoken to. But this is just another shining example of my incapability to do anything right. I once again messed up, and it might just cost everyone. I made an executive decision to play dumb and pretend I was paying attention too.

I racked my brain to recall what had been said in the tense conversation we had with the manticore. I know for a fact no one mentioned Kronos, so I can't use that excuse. In fact, no one specified anything about Titans in general. So, naturally the most logical way to go about this is to say that I connected the dots after coincidently possessing a Titan card in my Mythomagic deck. As for the let's recruit Bianca fiasco, I'll just have to again, claim I connected the dots after I noticed all of the hunters are girls.

"Well, I have this card from my deck of a Titan, and I remember that Titans are one of the main enemies of the Gods. So I just guessed a Titan would possibly be the General. As for the fact that I knew Lady Artemis would ask Bianca to become a hunter, I just connected the dots that all of the hunters are female. Logically speaking, the scenario of Bianca being asked seemed the most likely, especially if the Manticore called us powerful half bloods," I lied easily. The words rolled off my tongue so smoothly, I almost convinced myself. Where in the world did I learn to lie so well? Probably after years of masking my emotions. I guess practice really does make perfect.

Percy nodded, but I could tell I haven't completely convinced him. Nevertheless, he bought the story and handed me my bag. "The hunters packed this for you."

"Thanks," I replied.

"Oh, and Nico?"

I turned to him. "Yeah?"

"Thanks for helping Annabeth, she would've seriously gotten hurt if weren't for you," he said. Without another word, Percy left me to my own thoughts. Probably to find Annabeth and his friends.

I wandered aimlessly around camp, enduring glares from the hunters and undertaking the challenge of staying away from the wolves. The motion helped warm me up a bit, but I refused to go near the fire and risk having to face my sister.

So naturally, I ran into my sister anyway.

"Nico, I need to talk to you," she took the liberty of dragging me near the edge of the forest, which of course is freezing.

"I—"

"And don't try to get away from me," she interrupted me. "I won't let you avoid me anymore. We need to work this out. I need to explain to you why I chose to join the hunt."

I tried to be as nice as possible. But generally speaking, when people start dragging me around, I usually glare at them till they pee their pants. "Bianca, I really don't want to talk to you right now."

"So you're just going to sulk all day instead of working it out? That's not fair," Bianca said. I stopped dead in my tracks. She did not just say that.

My rage simmered over. "Let's make something clear: What you did, leaving me like that for a 'new family?' That's not fair. I have every right to sulk! I have every right to feel upset! And here you are, forcing me to 'work this out' with you when you caused this problem in the first place! How would you feel if I just ditched for immortality, to get away from responsibility? All because I don't want to have to deal with my annoying sister? Do you see how selfish that is?" I asked incredulously. Ok, sue me for giving into my fatal flaw. But who can blame me? Sometimes it's hard to rein in my anger, and my sister knows exactly what to say in order to push my buttons.

She looked surprised by my sudden outburst. "I'm sorry, Nico. But don't tell me you wouldn't do the same thing! I just want a break! Do you know how hard it is to take care of you?" She defended.

"Of course I know Bianca! Life is hard! Taking care of annoying brothers can be hard! But that never gives you the excuse to ditch them like that! I warned you immortality isn't everything! Knowing your life won't last forever? That's what makes life precious and special! It's what makes the moments meaningful! And you just swore loyalty to Artemis and gave all of that up! You didn't even think to give me a heads up first?"

"Of course I did! You weren't there! You just disappeared! What did you expect me to do?" She asked incredulously.

"Listen to your family! But I guess it's fitting you didn't listen to me. After all, you have only one family now, and it sure as heck isn't me! Good riddance, Bianca."

Without another word I left. I have enough on my plate. I don't need to deal with this too. I angrily wiped the tears streaming down my face and went to find Annabeth. I didn't look back, even as my sister desperately called out.

It's a hard-knock life for all of us, I realized. Just like that movie.

And it won't get any better from here.