Chapter 9

Nico woke with a start. "What was that?"

Percy blinked dirt out of his eyes as he stood up and pulled on his shirt and handed Nico his. Nico sat up and cried out as he put pressure on his broken hand. He quickly pulled his shirt over his head. Percy made a split second decision. "Shadow travel us to your cabin."

Without hesitation, Nico grabbed Percy's hand and shadow traveled. When they landed, Percy closed his eyes for a moment, letting the queasiness in his stomach dissipate. He took deep breaths and squeezed Nico's hand.

"What the Hades was that?" Nico asked.

Percy regained the ability to move his wobbly legs and ran out of the cabin toward the shore.

"Percy!" Nico called and ran after him.

Percy halted when he reached the sand. "Good thing we didn't swim." He muttered, staring at the herd of ginormous Cyclops pounding their fists on the barrier along the shore. He briefly thought of Tyson and prayed to the gods that he wouldn't turn out like that. Nico gasped and reached for his sword, but realized 1; he wasn't wearing it and 2; his right fighting hand was bandaged. Percy pulled Riptide out of his pocket and uncapped the pen. The blade burst forth in all its glory. He turned toward Nico. "The barrier will hold them, right?"

Nico gulped. "Hopefully."

"We should tell Chiron…"

"I already know, Percy." Chiron trotted toward the pair. "The other campers are preparing for attack in case the barrier doesn't hold like it did last time."

"Last time Luke poisoned Thalia's tree." Percy flinched as another fist shook the barrier.

"I have checked the tree. It's fine." Chiron faced the Cyclops, his tail swished in worry.

"Why are they here?" Percy asked even though he doubted Chiron would know.

The centaur's gaze flicked for a second to Nico then back to Percy. "I have a theory, but I will tell you when I know for sure."

Percy clenched his jaw. He didn't know what the theory was, but he was certain it had something to do with Nico. Nico noticed Chiron's glance at him and felt his heart skip a beat. What could they want with him? He looked at Percy for reassurance. Percy stepped closer to him as the other campers started to arrive. "Don't worry, Sunburn. The barrier is fine. The Cyclops will stay out there." Nico bit his lip and slipped his broken bandaged hand into Percy's sword-free hand.

"Chiron!" A camper yelled. "What do we do? Just wait for them to leave?"

Chiron didn't answer. Everyone just stared at the raging Cyclops. Nico suddenly scowled and stepped forward, away from Percy, toward the barrier.

"Sunburn!" Percy shouted. He'd become accustomed to the nickname. "What in Hades are you doing?" Percy hurried after him.

Nico looked at him. "Back up, Percy." He said, clenching his good hand into a fist.

"What- what are you doing?" Percy's voice shook. He reached out for Nico's hand. He jerked it away. "I don't want to hurt you, Percy. Just back up, please."

"Nico," Percy stated sternly, grabbing the boy's attention. "What are you doing?"

"Getting us an army." Nico replied.

Percy stepped back. The tip of Riptide drew a line along the sand. Nico stomped his foot and jerked his unhurt arm up. The ground shook and a crack split in the earth. Hundreds of skeleton warriors rose from it carrying rusty swords, spears, and shields. Nico yelled an order and they charged through the barrier and attacked the Cyclops. Percy stumbled back, watching in awe as Nico controlled the dead. The Cyclops roared in anger and swung their clubs and fists at the boney army. Nico felt his energy draining from maintaining such a large army. Percy charged forward and stood next to him. He took another step so that his bare feet were in the water. His closed fists shook as a wave the size of the Eiffel tower plowed into the Cyclops herd. Nico was only half aware of Percy's attack. His vision was starting to swim and fade. He knew he should pull back. Percy grabbed Nico's hand and continued to bash the Cyclops with water. Percy's touch gave Nico an extra burst of strength to maintain the skeleton army. The Cyclops army roared in anger, stomping on the skeletons and punching at the waves. Nico dropped to his knees, his control still solid, but his strength wavering. "Percy…" he moaned.

"Hang in there, Sunburn." Percy's own strength was failing, but he had to be strong for Nico.

"Why…why aren't they dying?" Nico asked.

Percy frowned. He began to shake violently and his wave was getting smaller and smaller. "They're in the water. They're like me and Tyson…the water heals them."

"Fuck." Nico cursed. "What do we do?"

"Nico. Pull back."

Nico released his control and the skeletons disappeared back into the crack which closed up. Percy stepped further into the water almost to the barrier. The Cyclops roared and once again began banging away at the barrier. Percy closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The water began to gather at his feet. Then it turned into a swirling hurricane of fish and H2O and Percy was its center. The wind roared louder than the Cyclops. Nico gasped and scrambled back a little, the wind whipping his hair. Percy raised his arms above his head as the hurricane grew. The wind picked up the smaller Cyclops, throwing them every which way. Gods, Nico loved his boyfriend. Chiron stood next to him and helped the boy to his feet. Percy's hair blew in his face as he sent the hurricane out into the sea, taking the Cyclops army with it. Nico cheered with the rest of the campers and glanced at Chiron. Their teacher still looked worried. Percy stared out into the water. His adrenaline was gone and he collapsed unconscious into the water. A group of fish shoved him onto the shore and Annabeth ran to kneel by him. Nico staggered over to them. Annabeth reached out and touched Percy's face. Dark circles had appeared under his eyes. She flinched when Nico appeared. Nico knelt down and placed a hand on Percy's chest. Even though he'd know he'd feel it if Percy died, he was relieved to feel a heartbeat. Annabeth bit her lip and spoke through clenched teeth. "He needs to go to the infirmary."

Nico nodded, not looking at her. Annabeth grabbed under Percy's arms and dragged him further in land. Nico moved to help her though his head was starting to swim. Chiron fell into step beside them. "Good job, Nico."

Nico nodded and looked up at the centaur. "Why were they here?"

Chiron glanced worriedly at him. "They want you. I don't know why."

Nico's stomach turned over. "Me?! Why me?"

Annabeth scowled. "He just told you he doesn't know, idiot."

Nico scowled at her. "No need to be a bitch, Chase." He snapped. Between Percy being hurt and the attack and knowing someone out there wanted him badly enough to send a herd of Cyclops made his temper even more edgy than normal.

"You little-" Annabeth began, but Chiron cut her off.

"Annabeth. Nico. Now is not the time for you to be bickering. We have greater matters on hand." Chiron held open the door into the Big House.

Nico scowled, but stepped through after Annabeth, Percy between them. Chiron waited until Percy had been situated before sitting Nico and Annabeth down to talk to them. Nico sat as far away from Annabeth as he could and chewed his lower lip, waiting for Chiron to speak.

"I have a quest," Chiron paused. "For the three of you."