Chapter 19

~Nick~

The journey back to camp was uneventful. As usual a mortal taxi cab was waiting at the runway, meter already running. I sat in the middle because I was still worried that if Nico had any close proximity to one Perseus Jackson I would lose him again.

I held Nico's hand in mine. Meanwhile, the cab driver was navigating the streets of New York. I didn't really know my way around New York. I'd never been here until Nyx had sent to me to Camp Half-blood.

Rain began to fall pattering on the roof of the ever-moving taxi. The sound was soothing and I laid my head on Nico's shoulder. He turned his head smiling at me briefly and turned back to staring out the window. He rubbed his thumb lightly across my hand. Getting Nico to smile was hard. I always felt like everything was okay if I could make Nico happy.

When we pulled up to the border of camp the taxi driver spoke up gruffly, "You sure this is the place? There ain't nothin' here."

"We're sure." I said handing the man my credit card.

He shrugged, taking the card and expertly swiping it and then handed it back.

The car doors on either side of me opened as Percy and Nico stepped out. I slid out after them. The taxi made its way back to the city in a hurry. Percy, Nico and I stood there looking at Camp Half-blood. It was kind of their home. Even though I had just gotten here. I found myself wondering what Nico thought of this place. Was it home to him? Or was the Underworld his home? I was one of the few people alive who could understand how Nico, even more so than other demigods, was pulled between the world of Gods and mortals.

As we walked over to the big house, Annabeth and another red-headed girl in the orange camp half-blood t-shirt and raggedy blue jeans speckled with paint of all colors. She even had just a bit of white smudged on her cheek. She had her hair tied back into a precise ponytail.

"Percy, thank the gods you're back!" Annabeth ran forward then hugging her boyfriend. Nico edged closer to me but otherwise didn't respond.

"Is this the son of Nyx everyone's been talking about?" The red head asked the group at large.

"That's right. I'm Nick Ryder." I said holding out my hand.

She took it smiling, "Rachel Elizabeth Dare."

"Nice to meet you, Rachel," I said not sure of what else to say.

"Chiron's been waiting for you guys. Thankfully there haven't been any monster attacks yet." Annabeth said stepping back to stand beside Rachel.

I caught on to her specific wording, frowning slightly. "You mean there have been other kinds of attacks?" I asked a little bewildered.

Annabeth turned her stormy grey eyes on me. She looked at me a little differently. "Yeah," she said, "a demigod was injured yesterday. A knife in the shoulder. It was in the camp's magical border though. Which means…" her voice trailed off then.

"It had to be one of us, a demigod." Nico supplied helpfully.

Annabeth just nodded gravely. Her cool eyes taking in the three of us, reading us, I realized.

"This way." Rachel clapped, getting the assembled Halflings to enter Chiron's study.

Chiron was seated behind the mahogany desk. Paintings lined the walls. The exception being a snarling, very much alive cat. Mostly just the head of it really. But a ferocious cat all the same.

"Come in. Come in." Chiron said gesturing us inside, "Did you get the protection we require?"

Percy nodded and went behind Nico unzipping his backpack and pulling out the Stars of Night and the Scales of Justice. He set them done gently on Chiron's desk. The owner was seated in his wheelchair. It kind felt kind of strange seeing him that way. I had only ever seen him in his natural form.

As soon as Percy set down the artifacts the room began to rumble and shake. All light was extinguished and the black orb, the Stars of Night, began to glow.

"What's happening?" Annabeth called out, not quite in fear, but her calculating mind knew this was most likely the Gods work. It had no basis in science and reason.

"I don't know." I said. I felt it was my duty to respond since I had stolen the damn thing from my own Mom. My Godly parent at that. I hoped she wouldn't kill me, I thought belatedly.

In the inky blackness now surrounding everything I moved closer to Nico. I could hear others moving around as well. Suddenly star formations began to form and then zip off in many different directions.

Then the black orb expanded in size and move to encompass the Scales. The orb seemed to change as it moved becoming smoke. It snapped back to class with an audible crash.

Light returned to the world. I was almost huddled with Nico. As unmanly as that sounds. I saw with a little relief that Percy and Annabeth had done something similar holding hands and hugging. Percy murmured in her ear. It seemed to be a constant stream of reassurances.

Rachel and Chiron were the only one's standing alone. Blinking and bit wide-eyed. I tried to put the pieces together. I wasn't at all sure what it had meant. Slowly though, like a butterfly rising form a cocoon, an idea began to form.

No one spoke for a moment. "I think that was supposed to happen. I think that whatever magic that was contained in the orb was released. To protect the camp," I said finally breaking the silence.

"What about when it encased the Scales of Justice?" Annabeth asked. Her voice didn't sound mean or rude, simply curious.

I paused a moment, unsure in my assessment, "I think it was a kind of blessing from Nyx."

I went on to explain how this was probably my fault. I had stolen the Stars of Night from Nyx's most prized possessions. This was her cryptic way of telling me that there was no harm done. I ducked my head, self-conscious.

"Let's hope you're right." Chiron said in a mysterious and knowing way that set my nerves on edge. With that statement my doubts returned and I wasn't so sure I knew what I was speaking of anymore.

"Percy," Chiron began, bringing our attention back to him, "Take the Scales to Leo. Have him create a pedestal of some kind that can be placed before Thalia's tree."

Percy nodded curtly, throwing me a menacing glance, before taking the Scales of Justice and walking out. Annabeth followed him after a brief, "Percy! Wait."

"Nico, make sure Nick is comfortable while we find him a permanent place to stay."

"Of course, Chiron." Nico said simply, looking at me side long.

Rachel was eyeing us strangely and seemed to come to some kind of conclusion.

"I'm sure Nico is quite…capable of taking care of your needs but would you be so kind as to help me with something in my room? It's just upstairs and will only take a moment." Rachel said, obviously addressing me.

I sighed, loudly. I didn't like her particular choice of words…

"No problem. You coming Nico?" I asked of the smaller pale boy.

Rachel glared at Nico in what looked like a very familiar and very menacing manner.

"Um…" he said, not willing to look me in the eyes, "I think I'll go check on Mrs. O'Leary. Nick, when you're done, I'll be out where we practice sword fighting."

He stood there shifting from foot to foot, not looking like he actually wanted to leave.

"Oh, go on." Rachel said to him. "I'll make sure Nick finds his way there."

Nico nodded stiffly and walked away then. He took just a moment before leaving to throw me an apologetic look that was sad and cute at the same time.

"Well…" Rachel said once he had left, "shall we?"

She took her arm in mine and I looked questioningly over at Chiron who simply shrugged, looking amused.

"If I have to." I said to the demanding red head.

"Oh. We have to. Son of Nyx."