Sobs where coming from the sleeping boy. Tears covering his sleeping face. He was starting to toss around, dropping the blankets and kicking the boy next to him off the bed.

The other guy landed on the floor with a thump, banging his head against the floor.

-"Nico?"—he said while rubbing his nape— "What was that for?" — he slowly got up, still half asleep, rubbing his eyes, still processing what was happening in front of him. A loud gasp was what finally woke him up.

The dark-haired demigod clenched his fists so hard that he started bleeding, his screams sounded around all of the cabin, even maybe outside as well. The shadows reaching for their master, enveloping him. Reacting to his pain, to his tortured screams, to his broken soul.

A healing hand shook his shoulder, the other cleaned his tears. His magic pushing the shadows away, like the first ray of sunlight after a storm.

-"Please, you know is not real,"— he mumbled on the son of Hades' ear— "I'm here, for you. I'm not leaving you. Fight. Fight back. Come back, don't leave me. Please..."-

The son of Apollo kept whispering soothing words while taking Nico inside his embrace. Tracing circles on his back, trying not to cry, being strong for the old yet young man.

It was really not a surprise when the blonde woke up at the first hour in the morning, still wrapping his arms around the Italian. He carefully got up. Nico wouldn't appreciate us cuddling. That night wasn't a strange one, as sad as it sounded, he had already get used to the nightmares, even the unexpected surprise of skeletons coming out of the earth outside Cabin 13.

He made his usual routine (shower and dressing) and then got outside, checking on the Infirmary and then going back to his cabin to lead his siblings around their everyday activities.

-"Please!"-

-"No!"-

-"C'mon! Everyone is going!"-

-"You baka! What makes you think I'll be welcomed?"-

-"Because your my friend."-

-"You stubborn bastard..."— the girl sighed in defeat. Why can't I just say no to him? — "How did you even agreed to this?"-

-"Hazel and Annabeth. You know how they can be sometimes..."— he took her hands in his— "Please? Drew? They're not gonna hate you, I promise!"-

-"Just because I'm your friend doesn't mean they're going to forget my snarky comments, the mean smirks, the bullying I did to them since I arrived to camp, Nicki."-

The discussing had been going on since lunch, while they were walking around the forest. As always, hiding their wouldn't be good for your reputation the Aphrodite girl would say every time.

-"It's not like I've been the nicest person with them either, and they accepted me! Even though I had lied to them before countless times. Everyone deserves a second chance."-

-"But you had a valid reason—

-"Listen to me,"— Nico cut her argument— "you didn't do it just because you're mean. I know how you feel, you don't want to be weak ever again. That's a valid reason. Just one apology, that's all that'll cost you. Plus, aren't you tired of hiding? I'm not afraid of people knowing you're my friend, you know? Why would I care about what a random demigod will say? You were my only friend back at Westover! Please," — he said with pleading puppy-eyes — "they're nice people. They won't hurt you."-

-"I still can't believe you talked me to this, di Angelo."- said Drew as they were standing outside an apartment at night.

-"I'm not sorry about it."- the Italian answered -"I want you to smile again. You're my family, too."-

Before anyone could answer to that, the door opened revealing a brunette woman with a warm smile.

-"Nico, long time no see."- she said with a kind voice — "I believe this are your friends, right?"-

The dark haired demigod gave her a shy small polite smile -"Good evening, Ms. Jack— pardon me, Ms. Blofis. It's a pleasure to see you again. Indeed, they are my friends, Drew Tanaka, Will Solace, Lou Ellen and Cecil."- he replied with a formal tone.

-"Please, come in. Everybody is already waiting for you".-

Just as they entered, they were confronted by a girl in armor and a defiant sight -"Ambassador, nice to see you healthy again."- the dark-haired girl proclaimed while extending her hand.

-"It is my pleasure, praetor."- the greek demigod exclaimed, taking her hand and shaking it.

Both teens were completely serious while the other were dying of the nerves. Not all days the met the famous praetor Reyna Ávila Ramirez-Arellano face to face, less watch how she greets her former quest companion. The atmosphere around them was awkward and tense. The greek demigods watched them with attention. Wrinkles were forming around Reyna's lips, as well as Nico's, but obviously his were smaller. After a few minutes of agonizing waiting, the two powerful demigods, still with their hands united, pulled themselves into a tight embrace.

-"I missed you so much!"- the roman leader exclaimed with glee.

-"How been? I missed you, too!"-

-"Everything fine, hopefully. I'm so done of wars and quests, but alas our problems don't resolve themselves. Pity. Anyway, you need to visit us soon, you became quite a legend among my people. Everybody talks about you, son of Hades."- Reyna turned to the rest of the demigods - "If you shall excuse me, please, I will kidnap Nico for a little while."-

*** Couple of hours later ***

-"You know? The Halloween Party is inside."- the guy said to the shadow resting on the fire escape with a joking tone.

-"I know... I guess I wanted to be by myself for awhile."-

-"Mind if I join you?"- the other shook his head. -"I know that we never talked about this before, even though I wanted to. Not sure if you want, though. You see, I needed time to think about some stuff. When Annabeth told you that you should visit more often, she wasn't joking. We... I do miss you. I know I was an asshole to you, I don't know if you can ever forgive me, but I'm sorry."-

The younger lifted an eyebrow -"What are you talking about, Percy?"-

-"I guess about everything,"- Poseidon's son took a drink from his blue soda -"I mean, after you left, the first time, I kept looking for you. I saw you in dreams but I wasn't brave enough to actually go and find you. You needed a friend and I was selfish enough to believe that you wanted to kill me. When you tried to help me, down there at the Underworld I pinned you to a wall with my sword on your neck, calling you a liar. Then, after I regained my memories I was so mad at you that I talked not so nicely about you. I was bitter. Even after we came for you, I just wanted you to move faster..." - he cleared his throat, pulling at his raven-black hair, closing his sea-green eyes - "But you were always there for me, when I needed you. You were always there with information, with strength. Always loyal, always caring for me. And I... I'm sorry, apart from your feelings, I shouldn't have treated you that way and I'm glad you moved on because you deserve better, so much better than me. And I'm sorry, I still want to be your friend, if you give me a chance".-

-"Why are you telling me this? Why now?"- the son of Hades said with a dull voice, starring at nothing but the darkness.

-"Because you deserve the truth. You deserve to know how much of an idiot I am. After your confession, everything just came to me. Everything was so clear, and I felt so bad, I still do. I talked to you like nothing because I didn't knew how to tell you this. I don't want you to hate me, but if you do I'll know I deserve it."-

Nico went quiet for a long time, replaying everything in his mind, over and over again. How the man he once loved just confessed he thought of him as the bad guy, somebody not worthy of their trust.

-"Please, say something".-

-"I don't know what to say. How would you react if Annabeth just told you that she didn't trust you? I can't blame you though, I don't have a nice air around me, I suppose. Plus, being the son of Hades doesn't help much. I once told you that it was dangerous not to give a second thought about someone. I believe that everybody deserves a second chance. I'm willing to start over, if that's what you want, but you must know that this won't be comfortable for me."-

-"I know."-

-"Let's be friends then, Jackson. But for now, I want to be alone."-

-"Yeah, right. I'm sorry, I'll leave you."-

-"Thank you. You're right, you're an idiot, at least you're an idiot with a good heart, so stop apologizing."-

-"Right. Badass, as always. See you later."-

Numerous pairs of eyes were looking at each others. Some brown, some honey-like, some grey, some green and others were just the perfect mix.

-"I'm worried."-

-"Me too, we'd be fools if we didn't. What are you worried about, Miranda?"-

-"About everything. This last war seems like it hasn't end, at least our problems. My mother... she hasn't spoke to any of my siblings. It's weird."-

-"Neither does Hecate, or any other god for that matter. Mr. D hasn't even returned to camp!"-

-"There's something happening."- a third voice added -"Last time the gods went absent my boyfriend was kidnapped as well as Jason. Also there has already been an attack to a demigod who casually is the only one in contact with his father."-

-"Are you implying something about my brother, Annabeth?"- an usual sweet voice spoke with coldness.

-"Not in a bad way, not completely at least. Last time two sons of the big three were the victims, who is going to be the next one now?"-

-"If it's Nico, I trust him entirely to handle the situation. He's still young, but he is one of the finest soldiers I've ever seen. Not just in body, but also in mind. He's not exactly harmless."- the roman leader stated.

-"I just hope is not him."- the beautiful asian girl said in a hush.

-"Nobody does. I just hope everything will be alright, we've already fought enough for a life-time."-

-"For the first time, I agree with Piper. The gods, can't be that cruel, right?"-

No one had an answer to the Aphrodite girl.

-"Come on, Seaweed brain! Everybody is on the van already!"-

The reunion had ended late into the night. Demigods stayed on the apartment only to be woken up early for an emergency call. Argus was driving, everybody quiet.

-"Nico, why did you call an emergency?"- asked Apollo's son.

Curious eyes looking at him -"I've been dreaming him, over and over again. His death... this is no coincidence. His presence feels different, stronger. The nightmares won't go away. You understand, right Hazel?"-

-"I can't be sure, but something changed."-

-"What are you even talking about, guys?"- Grover asked.

-"He was part Mexican, right? Today is November 1st. Día de Muertos starts today."-

-"Are you talking about...—

-"Stop the car! He's near!"- the european screamed just before they entered the camp's borders.

Everybody followed him out of the van, looking around, on the ground, on the sky, desperately trying to find something.

-"There!"- said Cecil -"I see something."-

The point on the sky was getting bigger and bigger forming the shape of a giant metal dragon which landed just in front of them. A curly haired boy claimed down, together with a beautiful girl.

-"So... what's up, guys?"- Leo Valdez said.

-"My Lord, my Lady, my Graces." - said softly the woman on one knee - "May I ask why you summon me?"-

-"You filthy idiot, stand up!"- said the other woman -"You just put the entire plan in danger!"- she exclaimed in rage slapping hard the peasant.

-"Please, my lady, do not waste your precious hands in your anger. We must remain in silence, until the storm had passed. Let's wait, is the wisest decision."- the great Lord stated.

-"Since we don't have another option, I command you, dumb woman, you must go and convince the great snake to collaborate with us."-

-"But Lady, the Lord's son might be in danger."-

-"Did I asked you what you thought? I don't think so. Go and do as I please."-

-"My Graces."- bowed the woman before disappearing.