"Just relax. We do it every year." Will adjusted my tie and fixed my cufflinks. I was wearing a simple gray suit with a pale purple shirt. Will stayed casual with blue jeans and a plain white shirt. Honestly, I'm surprised he didn't try for a matching suit. It was the annual Solstice celebration on Olympus and demigods we're invited.

"But I've never been invited."

"You were on Mt Olympus last year," Vigil reminded me.

"Barely. And that was only because I almost singlehandedly turned the final battle against Kronos in favor of Olympus."

"You did! That was kakós kólos," Will said.

"I don't think that translates well," Vigil told me.

"It translates fine," I replied, feeling irritated. "Why are you here?"

Vigil seemed flustered and I was surprised that Will had caused it. "You're anxious. I need to protect you."

"Yet you won't stop him from self harm. You're kind of useless," Will scolded him.

"Useless?"

"Stop it," I said to both of them. "He's a total mood today. He hates Olympus. Maybe we shouldn't go."

"You'd be missing out on a great time."

"I'd walk in and ruin the atmosphere."

"Your dad will be there too and I think he would beat you to it. Hey! Do you think he'll let me call him dad too?"

"Don't even try it," Vigil snarled at him.

"It's going to happen," Will said with a laugh. He checked his watch. "We have ten minutes."

I turned to him. "Do I look better with the jacket or without it?"

"Did you eat this morning?"

"I had a burrito."

"That was last night and you only had half."

"I had the rest this morning."

"You're eating two plates when we get there."

"The jacket, Will?"

"With. You look nice in formal wear."

"Chiron wanted me to wear this because he's approaching Zeus about reparations for me and Piper McLean on behalf of her father. I don't really want to do this."

"I think you should. It will be good for you. It's time to go."

We kept talking as we left the infirmary. "He'll laugh at me until he realizes I'm serious and then he'll kill me."

"Or he'll agree. Have you looked at Chiron's argument? It's a good one."

"I haven't."

"Basically, it says that if Hera hadn't gotten involved you would never have ended up in the hands of the Giants in the first place. Zeus is the closest thing we have to a government and something is owed to each of you."

"But-"

"Hey guys," Annabeth's voice rang out.

Oh gods. I looked at Will, ready to bolt. He put his hand on my shoulder. "They know. I told them about me."

"You did? That's great, Nico. You let someone know. Besides me, of course."

I sighed. He might be happy about it but they were the last people I wanted to see. Of course, they were coming over.

I still had feelings for Percy and that just made everything more complicated. I had hoped we'd never see each other again. It would have been easier.

But I had never been allowed to take the easy way out.

"Hi," I said, stiffly.

Vigil!

Ha!

I need you right now.

Not going to happen. I can't stand these humans.

Vigil sent me the image of a door slamming shut.

Loser.

"It's way too early," Percy said.

"Early? I've been up three hours already," Will told him.

I rolled my eyes. "You're not normal."

Annabeth elbowed Percy. He gave her a worried look but cleared his throat. "I've been meaning to talk to you about something so do you think you can ride with me?"

It took me a second to realize he was talking to me.

I looked at Will, who was watching Percy with mixed confusion and irritation. Annabeth must have noticed and drew him aside. She spoke to him in hushed tones where we couldn't hear.

They both glanced at us. Will still looked concerned but Annabeth gave us a smile and a wave and led him to the buses that were waiting on them.

"I borrowed Paul's car."

"I haven't agreed to anything yet."

He looked at me all serious. "This is kind of important, okay? I feel like it's something we need to address."

"If it's because I used to like you-"

"Used to? If it's in the past, why are you uncomfortable now?"

"You're reading too much into it." My voice came out a little too harsh and I cringed.

He shrugged. "Well don't worry. It doesn't have much to do with that."

We walked the rest of the way in silence. I kept looking at the buses but Will and Annabeth were no longer in sight.

Percy had been driving for ten minutes before he finally said, "You need to let it go."

"What," I asked him.

"I forgave you a long time ago for what happened with your dad in the Underworld. You just wanted to trust him. You should have been able to trust him. And knowing what I know now, what he did to you was worse. He's your dad. There is no excuse for him manipulating your emotions for his ambitions."

"I didn't care about being the Child of the Prophecy!"

"You know, neither did I. It's kind of funny. No one really cares that I plan to leave Camp for good next year. It wasn't worth that much in the end."

He cleared his throat again. "I, uh, when you were with the Giants, I told the others on the Argo 2 that you might not be trustworthy and I really shouldn't have done that."

"I told the Giants I saw you in New Rome. And that Jason was missing."

Percy shook his head. His expression became angry. He shook his head again. He pulled the car onto the shoulder and shut off the engine.

"I'm sorry, Percy. I just got so scared, I told them everything I knew."

Percy didn't say anything for a long time. His silence was worse than him yelling at me. I wanted to crawl away and disappear.

"I know enough about Tristan McLean and I know enough about you for the hows and why's of it. It. Wasn't. Your. Fault. I don't want to hear anymore about it. You have to let it go. Your life is way more important than someone's feelings."

He turned the engine back over and started driving again. He was more like himself again. "Thank you for sharing that with me. I won't tell anyone else what you said."

We were the last to arrive at the Empire State Building. I saw my father but he just gave me a quick nod and ignored me the rest of the time.

Will was in a better mood, after seeing me. But I could tell he was jealous. I didn't mind; it meant he cared enough to be jealous and I kind of liked the feeling.

There was partying going on which I avoided. I stuck close to Will who interacted with various minor gods and demigods I hadn't met before.

"Chiron convinced my brother to help you," a familiar voice announced.

I looked down to see Hestia with her warm eyes and her child-like form. She reached and grabbed my arm, clinging to it.

I looked at her and was reminded of everything I knew already. My life would never be normal again. There was little chance of me re-entering the mortal world again. Thanks to the Giants and Bacchus's 'help'. But it didn't make me sad anymore. I had my friends to help me through.

"You want to play Mythomagic with me, Nico," she asked me.

"I will. I feel like I'm going to have a lot of free time in the future. But they won't let me leave the infirmary yet. Maybe you could visit me there while I'm stuck in there. I only have Will Solace for company and he has other patients to see."

She grinned up at me. "I'll come by after this silliness is over. We can play all night if you want to."