XLVI

NICO

Nico was sure that he had heard a familiar bark from a dog. He stopped and surveyed the crowd around the lobby of Broadway theater. But how could Mrs. O'Leary be inside the Broadway? Unless the dog was following him like before. The dog could seemingly appear out of nowhere even in the most restricted places. Then again, Nico dismissed immediately the ridiculous thought of having a dog stalker.

"Nico?"

Nico turned his head. Will Solace was ahead of him. The blond tilted his head at him. Right. Will had invited him to go to a concert where his father, Apollo Charleston, was a guest performer. Until now, Nico was still struck by how much Will and his father were so similar in the features. They could even pass as siblings if you wouldn't look closely.

"Are you okay?" Will asked as Nico approached him.

Nico nodded. "Yep. Everything's good."

Will looked closely at Nico. When he appeared satisfied, he nodded and held Nico's hand. "All right, let's go"

"So my father will have two performances for the night," Will announced, looking down at the concert booklet he was holding. They were already inside the music hall and sitting in the VIP section. "One is with the main performer and he has a solo before the final act."

Nico glanced at the blond sitting beside him who was absorbed in the booklet. "Will, I've already met your father but you never mentioned your mother. Where is she?"

Nico noticed how Will briefly stiffened at the question. He was about to take it back and apologize for maybe taking it far, but Will smiled wistfully at him. He put down the booklet on his lap.

"She already died last year due to lung cancer."

"I'm sorry. . ." Nico bit his lip. Nico reflexively craned his neck to the side. Why was he feeling a little bit suffocated all of a sudden and there was this painful pinch in his heart?

"It's alright." Will shook his head. "Besides, an angel told me that mom is in paradise now."

"Huh?"

"Nevermind that." Will laughed and waved his hand dismissively. He looked ahead. "I still miss my mom from time to time but I know she's happy now so I do my best to be happy too."

Will's laugh made Nico feel better. "Uh, did I already meet your mother before?"

Will hummed in confirmation.

"Did she like me?"

"No."

Nico was taken aback. "No?"

Will grinned at him. "No, she didn't like you because she loved you."

Nico let out a sigh of relief. There was a smile on his face. "Jeez. Solace. I thought she hated me or she held a grudge against me until the end."

"Nah, she couldn't do that. And I quote 'Oh you're such a darling. No wonder. I totally approve of Nico,' end quote. That's what my mom said when she met you. Take note that we're not even together at that time."

Nico laughed. Then he suddenly sobered up when an idea hit him. "That's right. I haven't asked you this. How did I ask you out or was it another way around?"

"After coming back from mom's house and after we departed, you came back to my apartment again. You told me that you're supposed to steal something from me but you'll just ask for it."

Nico frowned. "What would I steal from you?"

Will's eyes gleamed at Nico. "Do you want me to show it to you?"

Nico's frown deepened. "Do you have it?"

Instead of answering, Will leaned forward and tilted his head. He kissed Nico softly on the lips. Nico was flushed and frozen in his face.

"Don't need to bring it," Will whispered against Nico's lips. He pulled away as the lights started to dim. He leaned back on the chair/ "Oh, it's going to start."

Nico blinked. He shook his head, pulling himself out of a daze. "I still don't understand why I would steal a kiss from you." He also leaned back on the chair. "Also, I couldn't believe that I was such a sap."

Will laughed softly. "That's one of your charms, being a sap."

"I refuse to believe that."

Will pressed his lips together to stop himself from laughing out loud. The performer came out of the stage and started to play the piano. Instantly Will and Nico were moved by the wonderful music. The next musical performances were also great that the audience including Nico and Will were captivated by it. Apollo already made an appearance by then. He was as flamboyant and dramatic as ever when he stepped out into the stage. Will just shook his head in response as Nico looked at him amusedly.

Apollo was going to play the violin with the main performer on the piano. And when Apollo started to hit the notes, by all the gods in the universe, it felt like there was no other beautiful piece that could be compared to what he was performing at that moment. In Nico's opinion, Apollo already stole the spotlight from the main performer.

After their joint performance, there was loud applause. It was louder than before.

"Are you sure that this isn't Apollo's concert?" Nico whispered as he leaned closer to Will. The applause started to die down.

"I almost forgot how good my father is when it comes to music," Will muttered back. "It has been a long time since I watched my father play on stage."

"Damn Solace, good was an understatement for your father's performance."

"Don't let him hear that. It's going to stay in his head."

During their brief conversation, they hadn't noticed that the main performer had left the stage to give way for Apollo's solo act. Apollo held a microphone.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." Apollo started to say in the microphone. "I hope all of you are having a good time now. You know, I always believe and I think most of you will also agree with me that music is an escape from a lot of things. People do music because they wanted to momentarily forget the present or the past. They do music because it's like a breathing hole for them, that hitting the notes or composing lyrics is a way to pour everything out when normal language seems to fail them. Now, as much as music can be an escape, it is also a way to recollect the moments that have been very special to you. To make those memories fresh again as if it just happened yesterday. Or the reason that we play music is just to celebrate this very moment, the present time. We played for several reasons and so am I. I am going to play music because I want to escape, celebrate and recollect every moment. Right now, instead of doing the usual classical music, I wanted to do something new and this music goes for my son, Will."

Nico looked at Will who froze in his seat at the mention of his name. His blue eyes were wide in surprise. Apollo sat on the piano. He started to hit the keys with his expert fingers creating soft melodies. Nico tried to listen. He wasn't familiar with the opening tune. Then when the series of melodies started to resonate in the hall, Nico sucked in a breath.

That was when the recognition of music started to hit him. Like Apollo had said, it wasn't a classical one. It was freaking pop music that everyone in this generation had already heard of.

It was Inside out by the Chainsmokers.

But the thing that Nico couldn't understand was why was he having this weird reaction with the song. His heart started to pound in his chest. His eyes shut closed.

Then somehow the music in the background started to fade and Nico wasn't at Broadway anymore. He was transported somewhere where two guys were sitting on the floor. He couldn't figure out who those people were when everything around him was so black and white and vague like he was inside of a movie back in the 1950s.

"You will feel worse when you hear me sing. I swear."

Nico froze when the other guy started to talk. The voice, he knew that voice all too well. It was a voice that Nico had grown fond of. It was Will Solace's voice.

"Please Will? I never heard you play or sing… I was curious.."

Then the realization hit Nico like a speeding freight train that this was another jagged memory of his past with Will. The dreams and the few flashbacks had stopped completely when Nico and Will got together. So he was astounded when another memory resurfaced.

"I warned you. Seriously." Will said.

There was now something on Will's lap and it took a minute for Nico to realize that it was a guitar.

"Just get on with it Will," Nico said.

Will started strumming. He started to sing Inside Out by The Chainsmokers.

The music stopped. Nico's eyes snapped open and he was jolted to the present when he felt Will's hand interlaced with him. Nico stiffly turned to Will who had a worried expression written on his face. Apollo had finished his piece and was already gone on the stage. There was silence as the crowd waited for the next performance.

"N-Nico, are you all right?" Will frowned at him as he tightened his grip to Nico's hand.

"Y-you sang that song. . ." Nico stuttered. Waves of overwhelming nostalgia and bittersweet feelings washed over him that Nico was having a hard time breathing. He swallowed. "You sang that to me. Inside Out."

Will's eyes widened. "You remembered? Wait. Are your memories coming back?"

Nico shook his head disappointedly. "Just that part, when you sang that song to me."

"I see," Will said. He kissed Nico's knuckles that took Nico's breath away again. "It's fine. And yes, I sang that song to you when we came to Mom's house."

The flashback left Nico suffocated again. His heartbeat calmed down a little bit and so was his breathing, but all of a sudden he couldn't handle anymore the darkness in the hall and the people around him.

"Let's not finish the show." Will suddenly said to him in a low voice. He tugged at Nico's hand. "Let's go."

So they found themselves at the café in the lobby of Broadway. They were sitting opposite each other. Drinks were laid on the table. Will, being the bonafide doctor that he was, checked Nico's pulse no matter how much Nico had said that he was fine. Nico had reluctantly straightened his arm over the table. The blond had put his index and middle fingers over Nico's pulse and looked at his wristwatch.

"Your pulse beat is faster than normal, are you sure that you're fine?" Will let go of Nico's wrist as Nico folded his arm on the edge of the table.

"Sing that song to me and I'll feel better," Nico said.

Will stared at Nico. Then he tore his gaze away from him as he looked down at the table. He smiled wistfully. "You said that too before. You were kind of upset that's why you requested me to sing a song."

"Really?" Nico asked surprised. "Why was I upset?"

Will froze in his seat. Then he was looking everywhere aside from Nico's face. "I-I forgot the reason, it was a long time ago."

Nico leaned forward. "As far as I am concerned, I am the one who has amnesia here. You are a terrible liar, Solace. Don't think I haven't noticed the way you avoid some of my questions, like how we met or the huge fight you unintentionally slipped off before. You've never answered those."

Will briefly closed his eyes. When he opened them, he looked Nico in the eye. "Nico, you're a former death angel, that's how we met."

There was a beat of silence.

Nico tilted his head. "Solace, are you on drugs?"

Another beat before Will let out a laugh, although it sounded awkward. "That's a joke, isn't it funny?" Another awkward laugh. "Well, you look like an angel. . ."

"Is that how you flirt now?"

The doctor leaned forward too. All the awkwardness was gone. "Isn't it working?"

Nico just flicked the tip of Will's nose. The blond scrunched up his nose.

"Excuse me, I'm going to the bathroom," Nico said standing up.

"Ah, sir." The waiter cleaning the table nearby turned and spoke. "The café's toilet is under maintenance so you have to use the bathroom in the lobby."

"Sure." Nico nodded. He started to make his way out of the cafe. He glanced back at Will when he had reached the door. Will was looking down at the table seemingly lost in his thoughts.

Death angel? Nico thought briefly as he exited the café and headed for the bathroom.

Unknown to him, a man wearing a black cap was hiding behind the pillar nearby and watching Nico's retreating figure. A low growl escaped from him.

After using the toilet, Nico was washing his hands on the sink when the lights started to flicker. He was alone in the restroom. Nico ignored it as he pulled out a tissue paper from the dispenser and wiped his wet hands with it. Nico felt like the temperature in the room dropped. He chucked down the tissue paper in the trash bin and headed for the door. He pulled the door open. Yet the door wouldn't budge as if it was locked. Nico tried again but there was no use. The lights went off.

"What the hell?" Nico said out loud. "Hey! Someone's here. I got locked." He banged at the door, hoping someone would hear him from outside.

Suddenly, there was an invisible force that threw Nico on the nearby wall. He yelped and grunted as his back hit the wall.

"What-" Then he gasped when he felt like someone was choking him.

"Who are-" Another gasp and cough from Nico. The grip around his neck tightened. Because it was dark, he couldn't see anything. He tried to grab whoever was choking him but he felt nothing. Yet the feeling of a hand strangling him felt so strong and solid. The weirder thing was there was nothing around his neck when he had touched it.

The lights briefly flickered on then it went off again. It confirmed his suspicion that no one was around.

However, that wasn't the real problem right now. He couldn't breathe anymore.

Lights flickered on again and he caught a glimpse of black smoke. Then it was dark again.

Die. . .

It felt like a whisper of a sinister promise and a vengeance.

You should die. . .

Beads of sweat trickled down Nico's temple to his cheek. No matter how much Nico wanted to fight, he couldn't. When he didn't know whom to fight and what exactly was going on.

Nico was sure that he was about to pass out due to the lack of oxygen. And he wondered for a moment if he was really going to die right there. He might be hallucinating because of his current state but he somewhat heard another loud bark...

Then there was a hiss.

Mrs. O'Leary? Nico absentmindedly thought. His eyes felt heavy and there was nothing he could do but close them.

He heard another hiss, then all of a sudden the feeling of choking was gone. Nico's eyes snapped open. He gasped and coughed as he fell on his knees and hands on the floor. The air started to circulate freely in and out of his body again. The lights turned on. The temperature went back to normal. The door abruptly burst open. Nico was too weak to move and see who had found him.

"Nico!"

It wasn't Will's voice. When he got a bit of strength to look up, it was Apollo Charleston.

Apollo cursed as he helped Nico to sit up. Nico leaned back on the wall.

"What happened?" Apollo crouched down beside him. He wore a champagne-colored three-piece suit with black lapels and bow tie.

"I don't know." Nico rasped out. Then he settled for a lie when he didn't know how to explain what just happened. "Felt dizzy, that's all... "

Apollo put a hand on Nico's forehead. Nico felt instantly warm. The warmth reminded him of Will.

Then he remembered Will who was waiting in the cafe. "Shit. Will's going to worry that I'm taking too long here." He was about to stand up when Apollo pushed him back.

"Sit still for a moment," Apollo ordered and Nico obliged. He couldn't stand just yet anyway.

Apollo continued. "Austin probably found Will by now so he would be occupied for a moment."

"How did you get in?" Nico asked. "The door was locked."

"It's not." Apollo frowned at him, his hand was still on Nico's forehead.

"But-" Nico paused. It was pointless to explain when everything was so absurd. He was still shaken up by whatever had happened earlier. Yet, Nico pushed that at the back of his mind for the time being. He would think about that later.

"Thankfully. I came here to use the bathroom." Apollo pulled back his hand from his forehead. "Will texted your location earlier but I let Austin go ahead when I need to use the restroom. Are you all right now?"

Surprisingly, Nico felt better. He nodded. "Yeah."

"Okay," Apollo said, standing up. "Let's get you up to your feet."

Apollo helped Nico to stand up.

"Thanks," Nico said when he settled on his two feet.

"No problem son, let's go." Apollo clapped him lightly on the shoulder.

"Wait. I thought you're going to use the bathroom?"

"Huh? I changed my mind. Let's just head back to Will and Austin"

"Can I ask a question?" Nico asked as they walked to the lobby and back to the café.

"What is it?" Apollo looked inquiringly at him.

"Why did you play Inside Out at the concert earlier?"

Apollo laughed. "Will might not say it out loud but I think it his favorite song. He used to play that song often during winter last year. He never played any instrument when he got so busy being a doctor. So it was surprising to see him holding a guitar and singing that song all over again."

"I see. . ." Nico answered.

"But you know, Will's tune sounded sad when he had played that song before," Apollo said.

oo00oo

For a change, the curtains on Nero Johansen's office were drawn to the side. He stood by the window watching the scenery outside. His hands tucked in the pocket of his blood-red pants that matched his coat.

Luke entered the office. "Sir,"

"Luke Castellan," Nero said still staring at the window. "Are you really testing my patience?"

Luke stuttered and trembled. "N-no, sir. Henry Stevens was properly taken care of and according to our sources in the NYPD, the detectives in New Jersey didn't obtain any information."

"Are you sure about that?" Nero asked.

"Y-yes, Sir."

"Then why on earth Percy Jackson was around the building earlier? Was he just out for a walk and happened to pass by the Triumvirate building?"

Luke didn't respond and bowed his head.

"Twice you've failed on your task and I've forgiven you about it. Don't let it reach strike three or else, you might be out in the game." Nero said softly. He was now staring at his reflection on the window glass.

"See the consequences of your failures?" Nero added, "Percy Jackson is still roaming around. ."

"He was supposed to be dead, Sir," Luke reasoned. "He had multiple gunshot wounds. I don't know how he survived."

"Maybe the gods are favoring him?" This time Nero turned around to regard Luke. His expression was impassive.

Luke didn't answer again.

"And Nico di Angelo, he was starting to sore my eyes. He's still suspicious about the basement so take care of that too." Nero said.

"One last chance Castellan, fix the failures you've made and you're going to be rewarded. Failed to do so... I don't know, you don't want to join the party in the basement, do you?"