NICK'S POV
"Nico!" I screamed as I ran towards him just as he slumped to the ground after he stared in numb shock at his bloody hands. I quickly scanned the ground for Nico's backpack. I found it lying several feet back where I had decapitated that damned monstrousity. My body shook with anger as I stared down at Nico's beautiful face. There was blood slowly pooling on the ground, his ears and eyes cryng blood. I reached out with my mind and threw the backpack my way. I felt tears sting my eyes as I searched franticly for the Ambrosia he had gave to me not too long ago. Just as I lost the battle with my tears as they now flowed freely down my face,I heard Percy's approaching footsteps. Every passing second fear filled me more and more. There wasn't any ambrosia left,Nico had given me the last of it! I screamed and flung the bag away from me without touching the cursed thing. I held Nico in my arms as he got paler and lost more blood. I gently brushed the hair from his face,"You can't die!" I say between sobs, "I won't let you,do you hear me? Gods be damned! I love you Nico DiAngelo and I will get you back from the Underworld even if it costs me my life. Please..." I felt the warm blood on my hands and Nico's body was steadily growing colder and paler and yet I couldn't let him go, He couldn't be dead. "My,my, what strong conviction for life from a son of Nyx." an amused young mans voice came from behind me. I didn't have the energy left to turn around or care who this newcomer was. "Apollo?" Percy asked increduously somewhere behind me and to my left. "That's right Percy. Are you ready for Sun chariot lessons? No? Ah well alas I didn't come here to see you Percy but this new demigod everyone on Olympus is talking about." Apollo's voice grew closer,"God's be damned...do you truly feel that way Nick Ryder?" I clutched Nico to my chest drawing on his strength as I spoke,a layer of acid coating my tone,"If the Gods won't help him then I could care less if they all ended up in Tartarus."
"If you truly want to save him,I will help you. Your relationship will be seen as forbidden. Your Godly parents passed powers and personality traits to their children and Nyx and Hades were some of the most feared. The Gods will see this as dangerous short sighted and potentially cataclysmic. But...If you truly love Nico then sing for him. Sing about your love for him and his soul will be drawn back into his body which I will heal. Only two people in love will be able to hear each other across life and death." Apollo said as he stood in front of Nico and I waiting. I looked down at Nico and kissed him tenderly on the lips and then I began to sing.I poured everything I felt about Nico into this song every fear and worry that I would never see his smile or hear voice again. I channeled that and sang for Nico's life. "I will never let you fall,I'll stand up for you forever, I'll be there with you through it all even if saving you sends me to heaven." " It's okay,It's okay, It's Okay. Seasons are changing and waves are crashing and stars are falling all for us! days grow longer and nights grow shorter...I can show I'll be the one!" "I will never let you fall. I'll stand up for you forever. I'll be there for you thru it all even if saving you sends me to heaven."
As I sang there was a gust of wind that tore through the clearing and Apollo knelt down putting his hand on Nico's chest. He muttered a few words in Ancient Greek and Nico's body was enveloped in a golden light. "Dont stop!" Appollo commanded, "Sing!" I pushed the thoughts from my head focused soley on my love returning to me and the song I had yet to finish. "Cuz your my, your my, My true love my whole heart. Please dont throw this away. Cuz I'm herrre for you! please don't walk away and please tell me you'll stayy! whoa Oh! Stay. Whoa oh ohoh." " Use me as you will, Pull my strings just for a thrill. Let me know you'll be okay, cuz my skies are turning grey." "I will NEVER let you fall. I'll stand up for you forever. I'll be there for you thru it all even if saving you sends me to heaven.I will never let you fall." As the last note rang out, Nico's eyes burst open and he sat up abruptly. "Nick?" he said weakly. Tears streamed down my cheeks this time in happiness. "Don't cry" he said using his now blood free hand to wipe my tears away. "I'm fine. I think I died, I was being judged in the Underworld but then I heard your voice." Nico said his voice and body gaining strength as he retold his story. "I was mad at first demanding to know how you died. I-I- couldn't stand the thought of you being dead." "Then I was confused,"Nico went on sounding like his usal self and using my support to stand up,"The Judges said the son of Nyx was still alive and playing games with things he knew nothing of." at this Nico cast me a side long glance but continued," I started feeling light and my soul was just floating, your voice grew stronger and all I could do was follow your voice. The Underworld faded away and the next thing I knew I was looking up into your face. I hugged Nico and stifled my tears. Gods I was a mess. "Thank you Appolo, I won't forget this. I am in your debt." I say seriously. "Don't mention it, I always love helping young demigods in love, when Aphrodite isn't looking of course. Oh, you two should watch out for her,"Appolo said nodding at Nico and I,"She has an unsual interest in all three of your love lives but the rumours on Olympus say you two are her new favorite toy." Before any of us could respond he began to glow and I quickly looked away as he vanished from sight. "Wish he'd warn us," Percy grumbles,"After everything we've been through it would suck to just to get vaporized by Appolo's true form." Percy addresed us beore moving on"I'm glad your alright Nico and thanks for saving him Nick. I'll get the horses together and saddle up. You guys rest a moment."
NICO'S POV
I hardly noticed Percy as I stared into Nick's eyes. I know I feel something for him more that just friends. I thought I had a crush on Percy but this was electric this was unmistakeable. I felt drawn to him. I felt safe. This boy in front of me while being extremely gorgeous had just saved my life brought me back from the depths of the Underworld. I knew from spending extensive time with the dead that only your true love would have such a strong hold on you even in death. Did that make Nick my true love?
I warched as Nick watched me anxiously, probably waiting to see how I'd react. I smiled and Nick looked at me strangely. Okay I deserved that,I thought,I don't really smile much. Oh Gods! what if it looked like a grimace? I better say something. "Um...thanks for saving me. I wanted to tell you back at camp and then again on the ferris wheel and then in the Underworld all I could think of was I never got the chance to explain." Nick sat there quietly stroking my hair. It felt soothing natural safe. "I've always felt closer to you, been more talkative and open with you. I didn't know what it was but many people at camp noticed the differencce in me as well. Even Clariise, she-she accused me of spyng on you for my Dad."
I cleared my throat and contiued, "Then when I went to see my father before capture the flag I had remembered something Bianca had told me after she had died but before she chose to be reborn. She said to me 'Nico there will come a day when you do want to be around someone besides me, you will even love this person more than me but in a stronger undeniable way. It may take you time to figure out what it is your feeling but it will be unlike anything you have experienced. This person will conquer your thoughts dreams motivations and fears. You will not be able to stop thinking of them. Promise me when that happens you will follow your heart,no matter where it may lead.' "Of course I promised she was my sister but it wasn't untill I met you that I began to see why she had felt the need to tell me." "You see Nick I grew up in a time when it was wrong for a boy to love another boy,but Bianca was telling me even before I knew it, I was okay and that it was okay to love whoever I wanted. And I want to love you." Nick smiled and hugged me close "I already love you Nico,I always have and I always will nothing could ever change that." he whispered in my ear. He gently nibbled my ear and a moan escaped my mouth without permission. Nick chuckled,"You like that?" I just nod,wishing this moment would never end. I lean in to kiss Nick but Percy interrupts us clearing his throat. I instantly back up and look guiltily over at Percy. I see the same expression mirrored on Nick's tan face. He looks cute when he's embarresed. Then Percy smiled at us, that goofy grin, I always wanna smack off his face. "We can talk later,it's time to ride."
