Chapter XV : Nico

For the first time in forever, Nico is feeling relaxed.

They are ready to take their final jump to New York, but at the last moment, Reyna had pleaded with Nico to stop on the way. She probably wanted a couple of hours more of freedom before they jumped into battle again, and Nico cant help but agree.

Nico doesn't know what to think about Reyna. Sure, shes cute, she's smart, and brave and strong for a girl. He just isn't ready to confess after what happened with Percy.

Percy. Everytime he came to think about him, a mixed feeling of hatred and fondness comes with it. He hates himself for it, how he had told Jason, how he had revealed his deepest and darkest secret. He only hopes he can trust the blonde guy.

"Nico?"

Nico turns around to find Reyna standing only a few feet away from him, her eyes wide with concern, her hair plaited into a single braid on her shoulder. She looked startlingly beautiful.

"Hey," Nico says, awestruck. "You guys ready?"

She nods. "You have any idea where you're stopping yet?"

Nico shrugs. "Ive been thinking about New Jersey, and we stay there for two or three hours and then leave for Long Island. If that's okay with Coach Hedge and you, of course."

"Its better than OK," Reyna beams. "Thank you Nico."

He grins. "No problem."

They stand silent for so long, it feels like hours. Finally, Nico breaks the silence.

"Where's Coach?"

Reyna looks up. "Oh, he's up by the beach trying to get a tan. As much as a tan a satyr can get, that is."

Nico smiles, taking a few steps towards her.

"You know, if the battle has already begun between the camps, we might have to fight each other," Nico comments quietly.

Reyna's cheeks suddenly seem to lose their color. She looks at him, her very dark black eyes dissolving into Nico's wild brown ones.

And then something Nico has never expected before happens.

Her eyes well up with tears. Nico steps closer to her and pulls her to his chest, his arms wrapping around her. She sobs into his shoulder.

Nico has never in a million years expected Reyna to break down. Her bold exterior, her strong and confident outside, completely covered her soft, sensitive, emotional inside. Never had Nico seen Reyna to shed even a tear, and now here she is, in his arms, crying her heart out.

He stays there for a couple minutes, her arms wound tightly around his shoulders, and he kisses her head reluctantly.

"Sorry," he mumbles. He was nervous that he had caused her to break down like this.

Reyna pulls back, sniffing. "No, No. Its been so hard. Singularly carrying the camp's weight on my shoulders. I've watched it grow, watched it win. I can't see it destroyed. As much as I want peace, its my home. I would go to all ends to protect it. I'm sorry, Nico. If my legion has placed anyone at risk. I will try my best to stop war but I cannot confirm it.

Nico looks at her, and as he does, he realizes that she looks scared. Reyna, the brave praetor of the twelfth legion, scared.

"Will you please try with me?" She asks "I'm afraid of what they will do. Will we get there? Can we stop war? Can we return the statue and reach Olympus in time? Will we win the war against Gaia? And after that, what will happen? I might be exiled from camp."

Nico finds himself asking the same questions she did. He comforts her "Everything's going to be fine. We will get through."

"Promise?" She whispers

He nods. "I swear it on the River Styx."

She gives a slight smile and releases him, and together they walk towards the beach, to find Coach, to make sure he doesn't burn his buttocks off.

Coach Hedge walks ahead of the rest waving his club around, once smacking Reyna in the face. Reyna looks dangerous. Her black hair flies around her head. Her eyes are glistening and her chin is set. There is no sign of tears anymore.

Nico feels a bit weak. He wants his full energy to take them to New Jersey. He didn't admit but it would be extremely tiring to travel all the way there. And it would be even harder to know when to stop.

He hears an unmistakable rustle come from behind him. He abruptly steps walking and whirls around. A hand flaps on his mouth and he is hit unconscious from behind his head.

The next time he wakes is for five minutes. He can't help but close his eyes even though his mind is persisting against it. All he can think about as he sinks into his inside world is Reyna...

The next time he tries to wake is more successful. He rests on his elbows and tries to lift himself up to get a view of the surrounding. He winces in pain. His shows are grazed and there a nasty slash on his shoulder. Nevertheless he gets up. He is concealed behind a boulder, from the other other side looked monstrous. Reyna is battling two demigods. Coach Hedge whacked at large crabs that crawl around. Nico shudders. "Karkinos" he mutters.

Nico puts in all his effort to climb over the boulder. Meanwhile, he keeps part of his attention to the battle scene. Reyna seems to have been overpowered and handcuffed. Her dagger lies on the ground. Coach Hedge is cornered and is surrendering.

"Where's the Angelo boy?" The older one asks. "Gaia needs one girl and one boy. I swear I knocked him unconscious it the next minute he had disappeared. No tracks, nothing! There's something mysterious going on."

Reyna holds her head high. "Why would I tell you?"

The younger one growled. "So be it. We will get another one. You will never get the statue back to the camp. Blood will be splattered. Gaia will reign!"

Nico hadn't noticed that Reyna had removed her handcuffs. She was buying time. But by her expression, it was clear she had no idea where Nico was.

Then Hades broke loose. Reyna took action. She brought her foot down on the younger one who clutched his foot in surprise. Reyna turned on the other one and punched him.

Reyna runs to her dagger and picks it up. She deflects the blow by the older one. He tries to jab at her but she anticipates the move and blocks, flinging his sword away. Reyna has him at neckpoint. Coach Hedge started to whack again. Some power boosted through him and he slams each Karkinos to the ground, making all their inside come outside. Nico gags.

Nico emerges from the shadows. He distracts the other boy who was making his way across to Reyna. He battles with him for while. The demigod is good and Nico's skills had become rusty. Nico lashes out at him and gets a strike at his hip. The demigod crumples to the ground.

"What's with Gaia?" Nico asks, bending over the fallen boy.

"Six days. One girl, one boy." he croaks. "The end of the world," His eyes roll upwards and his face goes slack. Nico feels for his heart and even then, he knew the boy was dead.

"Jonathan!" the other boy cries out.

"Shut up," Reyna says, pressing the dagger, closer to his throat. "What's your name?"

"James."

"We'll let you live if you co-operate with us." Nico offers.

"Co-operate with the murderer of my brother?" James asks, sarcastically.

"I didnt mean to do that," Nico sighs. "Look, you're on the wrong side. You think Gaia's going to be grateful? That she'll reward you? She is using you. Like tools for her experiments."

"I'm all ears... What's your offer?"

"How many other demigods like you are there?"

"Twenty, thirty. But there probably thrice that many monsters out there...more than that..."

"Convince everyone you can to join our side. Tell them that Gaia is only using them.. Gather as many volunteers as you can and head for Greece. We're relying on you. Please help us save the world. You'll be fighting the battle in our lines now. I won't give you any empty promises like Gaia but I will tell you that this won't be for nothing. I swear it on the River Styx."

James' intriguing eyes burn into Nico's black obsidians.

"Deal," was all he says in response.