Percy's POV:
Everything was calm on Argo II, well except me. To me the quest had failed, we'd lost Nico. Everyone is sleeping at the moment and they don't know about Nico yet. I am trying to think about how I am going to tell them with out sounding heartless but not too emotional or I will sound like a girl!
Annabeth's fever is going down thanks to the Ambrosia.
Wait..
I can hear footsteps.
Then there's a knock on my door. I mange to say come in, I haven't spoke a word since Nico went through the doors five hours ago. My voice sound croaky.
Its Leo.
"Umm, Percy," Leo says looking around, "Festus just did a check and he said we only have eight people on board. Correct my math but shouldn't we have nine?"
Leo sees my look and changed to a confused face
"What?" He asked
I tried to speak but no sound came out, then a tear rolled down my check. Leo looked shocked
"OMG I know this isn't the right time but your crying!" I looked at him in amazement "Sorry," he added
"Its Nico," I started
"Wait, whaaat?!" Then him voice changes into a tone I have never heard from him before
"No, no not Nico, not my bestie."
"Sorry Leo I did everything I could." That was a lie and I knew it. "We should wake up the others, they'll need to know.."
"Yeh" leo said in a faraway voice
About half an hour later we are all sat in the mess hall. Hazel is already crying, she must have put two and two together and made four. Frank is trying to comfort her, but not doing a great job. Annabeth is by my side holding my hand, trying her hardest to keep herself from passing out, she still has a little fever. Leo is fiddling with some gears.
Coach Hedge is eating aluminium cans with a lot of hatred, it like he's trying to kill them. Jason is trying to keep himself from looking too unhappy, once a Praetor always a Praetor. And Piper is looking out at the image of Camp Half-Blood.
I cough, Annabeth's hand tightens around mine, her silent support keeping me from loosing it. Everyone turns to face me.
"As you have probably worked out, we are missing a demigod. I would love to say he's alright, but I cant." Hazels tears speed up, and Frank gives me an annoyed look, I carry on. "He wouldn't let me stop him, trust me I tried." I sit down, but Annabeth stays standing.
"I forgot how rubbish Percy is at speech making," I nod in agreement "I think what he was trying to say is, Nico's is like brother to him and for Hazel he is. I still remember the first day I met him, the little boy with his Mythomagic cards." Annabeth sat down next to me and put her hand on my shoulder.
"He told he didn't want help, but we know better than that dont we," I said
"Yeh every time a demigod is in trouble we'll be rushing to help them, duty calls." Jason agreed
"Hang on a second, every time I ask for your help you ignore it!" Leo put in
"Leo, since when did you ask for our help?"
"I always do, ohhh wait your joking. Very funny Jason."
Before Leo started on Jason, I asked "Leo how far is it back to the doors?"
He picked his wii remote out of his tool belt the pressed a few buttons. Then he held it to his ear. "About a five and a half hours if we stop now." He pressed another button and I felt the ship go backwards, Hazel looked like she could throw up.
"Oops wrong button, thats reverse!" Leo pressed a different button and the ship stopped.
"Your making the right decision" Annabeth whispered to me