Nico let another week go by before heading to talk to Will about what they actually needed to talk about. It was one thing to let things calm down, but Nico couldn't ignore it anymore. Not after his dreams.

The first dream started with his time on the streets. He watched himself kill that man, over and over, but every time he would see Almaji in the background, his eyes red, his face pale, blood splattered on his clothes.

The night after that, he dreamt about the three Fates. They were busy putting back together a ball of yarn, discarded remnants around their feet and a look of annoyance on their faces. Before the dream ended, they'd look at Nico as if he had killed their puppy.

The third dream consisted of Almaji playing with a deck of cards while sitting in a pool of blood. A body laid next to him and the city was seen behind him. His smile never dropped and his eyes seemed to be redder than Hades' when he got mad.

Everything about these dreams made Nico too uncomfortable to leave Almaji alone. He made sure an experienced camper was always at his side. Others thought Nico was worried about Almaji's safety, but it was just the opposite.

He finally went to Will about it during lunchtime, his conscious getting the better of him. If something happened and he had known beforehand... But would anybody believe him? Almaji was as innocent as they got.

But why did he keep showing up in Nico's dreams?

"Will," Nico pulled him away from the Infirmary. "You're not allowed to go eat, yet."

Will followed, his hands still full of bandages. "Nico, if you wanted to hang out, you could have just-"

"That's not what's happening, Solace." Nico scowled as they got to the Hades cabin. Nico made sure to check everywhere to make sure they weren't being spied on before looking back to the son of Apollo. "We have to talk about something really important."

Will recognized the urgency in Nico's voice and quickly lost his joking manner. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"You need to promise to hear me out, okay?" Nico crossed his arms. "I'm being really serious, but it might sound stupid at first."

"Okay, okay. I'm listening. Is this about Anubis or something?" Will asked. "I mean, I've been having questions about him, too. Like if he'll actually disappear from your mind when we go on dates-"

"Will!" Nico cut him off for the second time that day, his blush spreading across his cheeks. "That is definitely not what I was planning on talking about. We can discuss that later."

"Ah, so you're curious, too."

Nico rolled his dark eyes. "William Solace."

"Right, sorry." Will held his hands up in surrender. "I apologize for wanting only one soul in my boyfriend when I kiss him. I don't want to kiss an Egyptian god."

"I don't even think Anubis is gay," Nico admitted. "Just calm down about that. This is about Almaji."

Will's playful smile dropped. "What happened? Is he okay?"

"He's eating lunch with the Stolls right now." Nico sat by Will on the hard bed. "He isn't in immediate danger or whatever. I just...had to tell you something about him. I have to tell someone. And...and...I maybe...trust you. Don't let that go to your head, got it? I'm just saying that I need to tell you."

Will smiled again. "Go on,"

Nico told him about his dreams and everything that Anubis had leaked out about screwing with the Fates. He didn't hold anything back in the dreams, even when he had to tell Will that he killed that man. Things with Almaji were just too important to hide things like that. Will knew Nico was dangerous, they had established that. Acting like it was an accident was enough to get the point across.

Will put his head in his hands finishing the explanation, his fingertips entangling with the mop of golden hair on his head. "Nico...you're always the bearer of bad news, huh?" It meant to be a joke, but Nico didn't take it as such.

"We need to know if he's a demigod." Will looked up at Nico, his smile gone and his eyes determined. "Let's start there."

"And how will we even do that?" Nico questioned. "I think generations before us wished it was that easy."

"Again, you either underestimate or overestimate yourself." Will jabbed Nico in the chest. "I think you know how we'll do this. Ask Anubis if you don't."

"I'm not asking Anubis anything." Nico quickly rejected. He heard Anubis mentally sigh but ignored it. "Just tell me what you're thinking, Solace."

It's your powers, Nico. Nico could basically hear Anubis roll his eyes. You just need to think.

Think? I can't think when you're taking up my mind! Nico held up a finger to Will to tell him to wait before turning his attention back to Anubis. Maybe I'll think if you leave me alone.

Why do I feel like that's just an excuse to get me to leave? You won't think and we all know it.

All? Nico scowled. Where are you getting this 'all'? It's just me and you in this stupid head, you know.

"Nico?" Will waved his hand in front of the son of Hades' face. "Did you figure it out or do I have to tell you?"

"Have to tell me," Nico admitted. "But blame Anubis."

"You can sense souls, right? You can sense when someone dies and you can sense souls." Will started.

Nico gave him a small nod. "That's old news, Solace."

Will thrust his hand out. "Hold my hand."

"Excuse me?" he squeaked.

"Hold my hand." Will grabbed Nico's hand and intertwined their fingers. "There. Now tell me what you feel about my life force once you calm down."

"William Solace...I...I am...I'm..." Nico spluttered, his hand limp in Will's. "I am calm!"

"Sure, okay." Will's voice was laced with sarcasm. "I thought we were dating, Nico. Holding hands shouldn't be this big of a thing when we're trying to figure something out."

"Oh, so this is my fault? You're the one that said it so abruptly." Nico countered, slowly starting to grip onto Will's hand. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to be doing."

"Feel my life source. Tell me what it feels like." Will instructed again.

Nico looked in Will's eyes for a moment before looking away, grumbling under his breath. "Fine, this better be worthwhile."

Nico closed his eyes and allowed himself to relax, his soul melting into the shadows in the room. He looked around from the shadows and saw blackness, including the ink that leaked out of his own body. Will's, however, was a bright yellow. Where his heart should have been, Nico could sense a sun.

Aren't our powers together so useful? Anubis sounded smug. You can't hate me too much if this is helping you with your...crisis.

We would have found a way without you. Nico snapped his eyes open. "William, I'm done. Let me tell you before I blow Anubis out of my head."

"How would you even...? You know what, never mind." Will didn't take his hand back, and Nico didn't mind. "So, what did you see?"

Nico described everything, not mentioning anything Anubis had said. Will beamed the whole time as if he had just won the lottery.

"What?" Nico questioned. "Why do you look so happy?"

"I was right!" Will blurted out. "I've been trying to trace your powers to see what you'll be capable of now that your soul is leaking into Anubis', or vise versa. And I was right!"

Nico looked at him in confusion. "You...what?"

"I've been talking to Annabeth and doing research." Will was bouncing in his seat now. "And then what I gathered from what I can tell about you physically. I've been trying to see where your powers will end up since you've been having so much trouble. I wanted to help. And I got something right."

"How long have you been prying into my business?" Nico snapped.

Will's smile dropped. "Come on, Nico. Don't be like that. I was only trying to help. You know that...right?"

"Just...don't do anything without asking me first, okay? And you're explaining all about my powers after we fix this whole mess with Almaji." Nico demanded. "I'm guessing you want me to do to Almaji what I just did to you?"

Will nodded. "I can bring him here."

Nico sighed heavily but didn't fight it. "Why does this always happen to me..."