No satyrs were harmed in the writing of this chapter.

He thought about leaving. The summer term was coming to an end in a week. Percy would go back to New York and he couldn't do much about helping him and Annabeth after that. He couldn't wait and stay until next summer because that's when his younger self would show up with Bianca. Two versions of Nico di Angelo meeting up at the same point in time was sure to anger the Fates. Would they kill his younger self too or just him? And if so, does that mean his younger self would just grow up, make the same mistake, and then come back in time to die all over again?

Trying to figure it out wasn't worth the headache it was causing. He just knew he needed to get back to his time or get away. Getting back to the present meant putting his heart in a meat grinder. He was finally spending time with Percy and it was fun but now he had to use it to push Percy toward Annabeth.

Silena asked to see him after breakfast. As soon as they met up outside the dining pavilion he could hear a few people whispering. He glanced back just for a second and saw Percy looking at the two of them but he smiled when Nico looked at him and that was that. At least Percy knew the rumor was a lie. They walked to the lake together and Silena laughed when he told her what Percy said.

"It's my cabin. It's always my cabin usually. Rumors about who's dating who."

"Aren't you worried Charlie will hear?" he asked.

"He already knows. I told him before it got around. He knows we're just friends."

"I can't believe your cabin would spread rumors about you," he said in disbelief.

"Oh, it's just Drew. She's just…like that," Silena said sounding mildly annoyed.

"Why?" he asked curiously.

"It's weird. I've only met my mother once but judging from my siblings and kids from the other cabins, I think the gods have the ultimate form of multiple personality disorder. It's like their kids represent sides of them."

They sat down on the grass in front of the lake and watched as the water naiads teased and flirted with the satyrs.

"When I met my mom she told me I was special. I guess I was born from a side of her she doesn't show often," she said as she fiddled with the end of her French-braided hair.

"I think I'd like that side of her more," Nico said bitterly as he watched the naiads waving at one of the satyrs.

"Maybe, but I think it makes me weaker in some ways…"

"How could it? You're…you're great, Silena," he said awkwardly but honestly. She smiled but her eyes were still sad.

"Thanks but I don't know. Drew thinks we should play with people's love lives, have control. She's all about making boys pine for her. It's a powerful tool to be able to make people fall for you because then you can break their hearts, use them, hurt them," said Silena, looking thoughtful. "I don't think she'll ever fall in love herself. Part of me feels sorry for her but part of me thinks she's lucky. It hurts when someone says they care about you but then they just walk away. Drew will never experience that pain."

Knowledge tickled at the back of his mind and he thought maybe she was talking about Luke. He clenched his teeth. He couldn't say anything. She was his friend now and he couldn't help her.

"Anyway," she said sighing. "It also puts me in a bind because I want to help you, Nico. I know you want to make things right with my mother but I want to help you be with Percy," she said gently. "I can see that you really do care about him."

"I can't," he said. "If I ruin your mom's plan-"

"Maybe I can talk to her? There's a good chance she'll listen to me," she implored.

"It won't help. Percy's not…like me. He, he likes girls," he stuttered and felt himself blush.

"If I talk to my mother and convince her then she can help with that. It's just a matter of making him a little more open-minded."

He felt his heart speed up because it was almost too good to be true. A daughter of Aphrodite who believed in true love was offering to help him be with Percy. This was probably the best chance he would ever have and he knew he had to turn it down.

"It's fine, Silena. I can live with it," he said trying to sound indifferent.

"So, do you need help with Annabeth and Percy?" she asked quietly. He thought about it and decided refusing her once was about all the strength he had.

"Yeah."

"Okay, I'll see what I can do."

He just nodded and watched as the satyr attempted to grab one of the naiads but fell into water and floundered while the nymphs laughed. Nico wondered if they would do him a favor and drown him too if he asked nicely.